Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1924-01-24
7Wo- Third Boss Rule Doomed
People Back OF Abrogation
Fight May Be Carried to Floor Of
Democratic Convention. William T..
Bryan Says Unit Rule Also Must
Die to Restore Franchise to People.

| OemoCratlc convention. William /.
Bryan Says Unit Rule Also Must
Die to Restore Franchise to People.
Written Specially for The Leader
By EDWARD. PERCY HOWARD
Thru Autpcaster Service)
WASHINGTON, Jan 23- While
the political bosses are whistling cheer
full airs and seemingly are carefree.
secretly they are whistling for cour-
age, for they know to a man that the
end of EDITORIAL rule is at hand.
The entire country is aroused and
back of the movement to abolish the
two-thirds rule and wipe out the unit
rule which jointly, for years, have
| rendered the expressed voice of the
people SO still and small that it has
| rarely been heard at all when the cru
cial moment arrived to nominate
Presidential candidate.
Like every fundamental reform, the
movement for the killing of the two
thirds rule sprang from the country.
The publishers of country newspapers
almost to man have pointed, out the
iniquity of the existing political sys-
tenn, and action has followed quickly
on the heels of intelligent public I'M
Outstanding.
When the Democratic National
Committee met here in Washington
last week the atmosphere was sur
charged with the spirit of revolt
against thN boss system. Many mem
bers of the committee were bent on
making the abolition of the two-t thirds
rule and the unit rule an issue so that
such recommendation might be pre-
sented in the form of resolutions to
the National Democratic Convention
in New York in June. In this crisis
however cooler judgment prevailed.
The committee did not act, but that
did not mean abatement in the de-
termination to make the change. In
deed, SUPPRESSION of action only served
to make determination stronger.
The only known reason why the
issue was not pressed was that such
a move would have appeared of GER
tain candidates. Those who would have
benefited possibly thought to make
a fight on the issue would have in
dicated weakness and fear of action
in convention under the existing sys-
tenn of control. Those who felt they
stood in higher favor with the bosses
naturally were averse to pressing for
a change.
1t is not by any means certain, how
ever that the issue will not be raised
or the floor of the convention, though
party leaders seem to feel such a
course would be unwise. One can new
CT tell what will happen, however,
once a national convention gets into
action. An apt remark from a brilli-
ant orator might set the convention
aflame in an instant and upset the
political apple cart SO completely that
in the scramble the bosses would be
buried in the melee. Those who re-
member the dramatic moment when
William Jennings Bryan set the coun-
try wild by warning the people against
"ctucifying the nation on a cross of
gold" will realize how small a thing
often will start stampede.
Perhaps the most outspoken of those
who favor an open fight in conven-
tons is Representative James F.
Byrnes of South Carolina, one of the
party leaders in the lower house.
There is no sound reason why
the two-thirds rule shouldn't be abol-
ished" said Mr.. Byrnes. "The only
reason | have ever heard advanced
why it should endure is the fact that
it was adopted in the day of Jackson.
Much has happened in our national
and political life since that time and
the Democratic Party should be a
party of progress Also party bear
ing that name should be democratic
in fact and abide by the will of ma
jor1ty. They say the South is for the !
rule because it gives that section the |
veto power in national conventions |
do net believe this. The party foil |
overs of the South are willing to trust
their friends of the North. | shall urge
the abrogation of the rule from the |
floor of the convention"
In private conversation many DEM |
ocratic leaders stand for abrogation
of he rule. Homer C. Cummings of
Connecticut, former national chair
man, reflected the average sentiment |
as follows.
81 feel the rule should be changed |
but it should be changed at a time
when no candidates are involved and |
when the change would neither help |
nor hurt any seeking a presidential !
nomination"
Daniel c. Roper, former Commits
sioner Of Internal Revenue and a Nc
Adoo manager, said:
"Not until after the candidate of the
party has been nominated should the !!
convention consider the abrogation of
the two-thirds rule. 1t is my person
al view that such change should be !
made, but not made in the interest of
any individual"