Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-05-22
The State Conventlon.

ne OEUte LOHOent1OH.
T HE Presidential Preference Convention
held in Atlanta on Tuesday was or
ganized in accordance with Democrat
&c precedent and proceeded upon the princi-
pie OF majority rule Called to order by the
chairman of the State Democratic Executive
Committee, it elected as it's temporary chair
man Democrat of high distinction and life
long allegiance, Hon. Zebulon Vance Pea
cock, of Pulaski county. For permanent chair
man it chose the president of the Georgia
Senate, Hon. Samuel L. Olive, of Richmond;
and for permanent secretary, the clerk of the
Georgia House of Representatives, Hon. E.
B. Moore, of DeKalb. 1t would be difficult,
indeed impossible, to find a more stanchly
Democratic group of presiding officers For
delegates-at-large it chose men of promi-
nence locally and in the nation; for National
committeeman, sterling business man and
party leader; and for district delegates
men who measure well up to their i'm
portant responsibilities. Moreover, the
convention was conducted, on the parlia-
mentary side, according to the practices
of the Georgia General Assembly, which are
recognized as models of reasonabeness and
fair play. In determining larger matters of
policy the Convention naturally took counsel
of it's own constituents and followed the
will Of its majority; this is what Democratic
conventions have done from time out of
mind, and what they probably will continue
10 90. MOI seeing NJ TO surrender us r1gnC
OF self government and Independent thought
to the State Democratic executive commit
tee or subcommittee, it ignored Rule Ten"
as any convention acting under the plan of
majority control would have done regardless
of the particular issues and individuals con-
cerned. Whether one liked or disliked the
men composing this convention, whether one
approves or disapproves the personnel of it's
selection of delegates and of a National Com
mitteeman, whether one sanctions or con-
dennis its resolutions regarding national at
fairs, one must admit that in organization and
procedure it was altogether within the par
tvs law and that, therefore, its choice OF
delegates to San Francisco is incontestably
the mandate of the Democratic party Of
Georgia.
The Journal regrets certain omissions in
the resolutions touching national issues. For
our own part we have stood from the be-
ginning and still stand full-heartedly for
League of Nations, believing that only by
some such co-working of the worlds moral
and material forces can a stable peace and
international justice be secured. We were
for the League just as the President origi-
nally submitted it, until all the evidence
and all the logic of events convinced us that
without reservations the covenant could never
obtain ratifying majority in the Senate
Then did The Journal, along with the great
majority of the stanch friends of the League
idea. plead for the acceptance of reserVa-
tions even the so-called Lodge reservations,
as the one means Of saving the whole beneh-
cent plan from rejection And the Treaty
would have been ratified long ere this, we
are convinced, had it not been for obstl-
nate refusal to yield a point in order to
gain a principle. Moreover, the convention
might we'll have voiced approval OF the great
constructive record of the Democratic ADMIN
istration, record never surpassed and rarely
equalled in American annals, and have re-
ioiced in the Administrations magnificent
work for the winning of the World War.
It was hoped, and rightly so, that way
could be found to place due proportion OF
Palmer men on the delegation to san gran
cisco. The places were open to tnem. buI
when the convention leader OF the Smith
forces proposed that each of the three can
didates be given representation among the
national delegates in proportion 10 thelr
respective strength in county unit Votes' Tue
offer was rejected by the Palmer leaders, VINO
commended for the entire delegation under
"Rule Ten" 1t is regrettable, we say, tnat
q wav could not have been devised for plac-
ing a due number of Palmer supporters on
the delegation. Yet, how could this nave
been done when the Palmer group le1u0o0
the pIaces offered them!
When all is said the important TACT STATUS
ont that the work of the convention on the
mare essential matters involved Represented
beyond question the views OF tna majority o.
the voters in the preferential primary. Ger
tainIy this is true as regards the OBNOXIOUS
"Rule Ten" by which committee having no
mandate from the people and no real au-
thority beyond that of making certain gen.
eral primary regulations, sought to forestah
and completely fetter the action OF soVer-
eign body. The most significant vote IN the
entire proceedings of the convention was tnat
which repudiated this tyrannous assumption
and which, in so doing, clearly voiced the Will
of Georgia Democracy. Nor can an impair
tial observer fail to see the conventions talr-
ness in the matter of contested seats. This
was notably manifest in the case of the Chat-
ham county delegation, which was heartily
accredited, the Smith forces voting IN It's
favor, despite the action Of the credentials
committee in rejecting it. On the question
of resolutions, the Watson delegates voted
solfdly for those to which we have referred,
the Palmer delegates solidly against them,
while the Smith delegates divided, some being
for the resolutions as drawn and others, who
represented the senior Senator's own views,
being for a cordial acknowledgment of the
Administration constructive achievements.
The obvious fact is, however, that the rank
and file of those composing the convention
voted each his own convictions. We may
differ with them, but cannot deny their
right Of free expression.
Nor can it be denied that the net results of