The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-09
BOSSES NOT IN EVIDENCE

bOSSEo NOl
 For several weeks before the opening of the Democratic national convention there was much speculation as to the program mapped out blythe t,Iree bosses, lTaggart, Bremen and Murphy. After more than two weeks of fruitless con- Ivention sessions there is as much uncer- tainty as ever over what that program was or is. If anybody at tle convention has had less visible influence than the bosses it must be the pages or the jam tors. Taggart is boss of the Indiana del- egation, Bremen is boss of the Illinois delegation, and Tammany is boss of all but two of the New York delegation. Whatever influence they have exerted beyond those confines has been so small that the naked eye of the American voter has been unable to detect it. To be sure, they may yet seize a strategic moment to impose their will on a weary assembly, but they have not been in control from the beginning.
 There is no doubt that a convention controlled by bosses is an expeditions affair, short and placid, and soon over without any serious debate or hitches There is no doubt that convention in which the bosses have little authority is apt to be divided and distraught and drawn out interminably. But there is also no doubt that the New York con- veDtion has ovooodad ova,, tho or4o-,o. o ct limits of division, and that there has been lacking that unanimity of sentiment and purpose which composes an invincible solidarity of party. If the convention nominates a strong man and supports him with genuine appearance of unity, doubtless the turmoil of the past fifteen days will be forgotten long before cleo tion time. But it behooves the conven- ton to become united before adjourn ment if the party is to inspire the most complete confidence of the people.
 There is no desire on the part of sin cere people to return to boss rule. The idea is abhorrent to Democratic princi- pie. But there is both desire and need for a more united sentiment and leader ship. This can come only from placing the party good and the national welfare above sectional and selfish ambitions. And in this case sectional does not refer alone or particularly to the South New York, for example, has shown itself to be as provincial and as sectional as any state of the South ever dared to be, and far more so than the South has shown any disposition to be at this convention. Other states and other sections remote from the South have revealed similar tenacity of purpose to emphasize the local at the expense of the party and the national opportunity.
 The schism in the convention also should not be analysed as serious di- vision in the party, for it is a division among leaders and not among the rank and file. The bitterness that has devel- oped in the convention need not be per mitted to spread outside of the conven- ton. Indeed, if these differences are wisely composed before the convention adjourns, the substance of Democratic unity and solidarity will still be undimin- ished. There is needed, however, some one in whom all have confidence who shall diro~1 the delegates back into the path of their duty to their constituencies. That duty is to nominate the man who is likely to make the best race for the presidency and is best fitted to exercise the responsibilities of that station, once he has attained it.
 It may be that Governor Cox is the proper man to conciliate the convention dissensions and to point out to the del egates the wider vision of party oppor- tunity MT. Cox has declared that he is no longer candidate and that he would not now accept the nomination if it were rendered him. That being the case, he is in strong position to make his voice heard, particularly as he has stated that he has in mind no candidate whose interests he will seek to further. What the convention needs is the clear light of sanity and public duty shed upon it. If MT. Cox or any other outstanding fig ure is able to shed such a light, he will indeed be worthy recipient of the grat- itude of the rank and file of the Demo- cratic party