Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-04-23
NO MINORITY TO
RULECONVENTION
WATSON'S EDICT
Committees Rule Not
Binding, Says Chair
k man Flynt


naming Georgia's delegation to- the
San Francisco convention, took on
higher interest today following the
announcement of Tom Watson, as
published here, that he will be at
the convention that "any attempt by
a minority to control the convention
will fail" This was taken as a di-
rect answer to the claim of the Pal
mer followers that the rule adopted
by the state executive committee
when it called the primary, stating
that the high man in the primary
should name the delegation, would
govern the convention. Inasmuch as
Palmer was high man by only few
unit votes, and was second to Watson
in both popular vote and number OF
counties carried, and received less
than half the combined popular vote
of Watson and Smith, the announce
ment of the McDuffie leader is ad-
mitted to have considerable weight
Judge ]. j. Flynt, of Griffin, chair
man of the state executive committee
is also out with statement that the
convention will be the sole judge OF
its own acts, regardless of the COM
nnittee's rule, which is also or con-
siderable significance. Judge Flynt
IL known to have been friendly In the
mast to Watson and to have been
Contributor to one of his campaigns
within the past few years.
Watson To Be There.
The Atlanta Georgian pubhsnes
statement made by Watson over Ihe
long distance telephone, and also
statement from Chairman Flynt' as
"PI be there May 49," said Mr..
Watson to The Georgian over the
Iong-distance telephone from ms
home in Thomson. las yet nave
not seen the claim made by the rat-
mer men and do not care TO as
cuss it until | have examined tne
Situation thoroughly. However,
ran saw that if there is any, at
tempt to have a minority RUE
majority they won't be able 70 90
"Judge ]. J. Flynt, of Griffin.
chairman of the State Democratic
Evecutive committee, was IN AtlanIa
Thursday and he said he has not yct
-,,ied officially on the question rats
"a hu Rule 10 adopted by the COM
ro;ttee at it's meeting February o..
n. ~Jndge Flynt said the convention,
E bis opinion is morally bound 10
abide by rule 10 governing the pll-
mary. but that it is sole judge OF us
own acts. ., ~. convention
I'll, bave the authority to do as II
nleases about following the rule a'.t st
that the question of whetner or nos
the committee had authority 70 aoops
such a rule will be left solely 10 'he
convention to settle. IL.
"The convention is the oilly
hodv that can instruct Delegation
To a national convention. Inc
state committee has no authority
to instruct any delegation and TINS
brings it right back to the conVeh-
tion again"
THE Macon Telegraph's Atlanta
oorresnondent sends the following;
"Iudge ]. j. Flynt, OF Grimm
chairman of the Democratic eXecQ-
i've committee, who was in Atlanta
fodav said that he could noe yet de-
tern1ine how he would rule on tne
nara oranh of the Barrett resolution
which had been made an issue
"He said that he did not beleVe'
bowaver that the committee intend
cd TO make the convention mercy
moot affair. The delegates would Dc
elected by a majority Of the eonVeh-
ton, he added. e +hase ,, he
said, Twill be nominated py @ on
delegates from the seVeral con-
gressional districts ana caucusths
Separately and reported TO Int ene
convention for ratification. our
will be elected by the Wnole coIe
yention from the state at large. II
the Smith and Watson delegaCes
are to have no voice IN tne pIo
ceedings of the convention tne
Selection Of delegates and Fne
aJontion of a platform, l see no
reason why they should come 70 70
Atlanta at all. They might as wen
% 2TTnder the rules of the execu-
tive committee, each candidate
r7rnino is entitled to delegates
4rona the counties carried by sald
nand;daate. These delegates are
10 o+tend the convention on May
Is Is for the purpose of electlng dele
oro+os to the San Francisco con-
9ention. There is no other metnou
nrnviSed by the committee for the
Selection of delegates to the ma
tionai convention, and to give sucn
;-,s+,.,,ctions to the delegates TO
+be % nafional convention as tneS
NAV deem wise in the premises
HOf course all delegates to tne
Mstate convention with proper ere
" 5entiais are entitled to an equai
voice in the convention proceeo-
ings." tn
The Georgian also quotes Ben M.
Rlackhnrn. Fulton county watson
manager and one of Watsons closest
advisers as follows;
"Any rule which seeks 70 con-
troll a majority of men through
minority vote is constltuVl9Gntaiily
wrong. Such vote is absolutely
untenable by any parliamentary
rule. .:..o
'The province of the executive
Committee is to make rules when
govern elections and its powers
are limited to that alone.