Arizona republican., 1922-05-11
The Unit


There was time when as children you and
were being initiated into the mysteries of natural
philosophy it was believed that the atom the
smallest conceivable thing. The next the MOLE
cules But that was before the knetic theory
well established; before the subject of the divsi-
by of matter was developed; before the researches
of Crookes and Thomson and others who have left
the scientific world in doubt to whether
anything may be so small that there cannot be
thing else smaller; whether there not infinite divs
ibity We have stopped for the moment at the
eectron which is the 1-2SOOth part of the old atom
After long lapse from study of the subject of
divisbility of natter our researches were renewed
or rather upon the other day while guest
of the Democratic county conference where the sub
iect of the unit rule being dscussed-something
new we were told, in Democratic theories which had
always held the individual to be the unit. There
seemed a disposition the part of some of the
members the conference to the scientific
theory of diyisibty by increasing the size of the
unit by combining what had hitherto been regarded
as separate and independent constituent bodies into
larger bodies controlled by some indefinite force
called majority" which it claimed Demo-
cratic. whether or not it scientific.
Somewhere in the theory of this government
or for that matter of any government the majority
must rule. Majority means force and not merely
preponderance of numbers though in Republican
or Democratic form of government mean larger
number when we speak Of majority. But always
and at all times whatever has controlled has been
the majority
But since we of this country count majorities
only by numbers, may inquire where the majority
shall begin to assert itself The answer that
seems to be in whatever may be the final action TO
be attained by the coming together of the units for
the accomplishment of the first definite purpose.
Tae in he lead II
the holding of the Democratic state conference at
Tucson next Monday was the precinct election The
delegates to the county conference chosen in
the only way possibility majority. That was
complshed and finished. The people of each precinct
doubtless had in mind. at any rate should have
had in mind and therefore may be presumed to have
had in mind. what they wanted done at Tucson and
not at Phoenix
The only proper exercise therefore Of the func
tions of a majority in the Phoenix conference was
the selection delegates to Tucson something that
could be accomplished in no other way. And when
that was done there nothing for the
iority to do. The precinct people had not their
delegates Phoenix to be coerced or restrained
to any freedom of action at Tucson by superior
bers en- route.
The selection of delegates to Tucson was the only
final action that could be taken at Phoenix Now the
ultimate, final action will be taken at Tucson by
delegates untrammeled the people of the pre-
cincts and there the majority will prevail.
There is a popular misunderstanding of the
preston of "the rule of the majority" The rule
should be invoked only for the purpose of giving force
not to the wishes of conferences conventions but
TO the wishes of the people if they determinable
1t must also be employed in determining what pro-
gressive steps shall be taken and then the majority
must prevail in primaries and conventions. But if
If should be invoked Illustrate the wishes of the
people whose first wish is that the hands of their
immediate delegates shall be bound. it IS certain
to provoke resentment.
We speaking particularly of the rule of the
majority in the Democratic party. The Republicans
whose proceedings representative leave
to political meetings. the unit rule is accepted
by them and they usually acquiesce in what is done
in committee convention. This explains what has
been generally observed in Republican conventions
smoother and more apparently orderly procedure