Evening star., 1932-02-10
Uninstructed Delegates.

Chairman Jouett Shouse Of the Demo-
cratic National Executive Committee
proposes that the delegates shall go
to the Democratic National Conven-
ton unpledged His contention is that
1t would be to the best interest OF the
country and the Democratic party to
leave the delegates free, when they
reach the convention hall, to make the
selection Of the presidential candidate.
Perhaps he is right. Indeed, a great
MANY persons tn the United States will
agree with him. But what then will
become Of the voice Of the people?
How will the individual voters have
anything to say about the selection OF
the candidate who may become Presi-
dent of the United States? A coldly
cynical answer would be that the people
have little to do with the choice OF
a presidential candidate anyway; that
sooner or later it becomes the province
of the bosses" to determine whom
party shall nominate. The primary sys-
tenn has been evolved in many OF the
States to remedy as far as possible this
situation. But obviously it has not been
successful.
A national convention for the noml-
nation of a presidential candidate COM
posed of totally unpledged delegates
would be a novelty. AS a matter OF
fact, it would be an impossibility.
There are more ways than one OF
''pledging" delegates. Some OF these
vays are far less praiseworthy than
urinary election at which delegates
are pledged for this or that candidate
Mr.. Shouse urges that no effort should
he made to foreclose the nomination OF
a presidential candidate before the ma
tional convention meets in Chicago
next June, declaring his neutrality to-
ward all the candidates. AS member
of the Democratic national organlza-
ton and headquarters chief, neutrality
is an eminently proper attitude for him
to take.
lust how fair it would be to the
delegates and to the voters they rep
resent in congressional districts and
States to send them to national con-
yention without some rather definite
ideas about the candidates for the
presidential nomination is question.
The same theory prevailed in the Gre
alton of the electoral college to select
President and Vice President. The
electors were expected by the men VINO
wrote the Constitution to have open
minds on the selection Of the Chlef
Executive, and collectively to exert
their best judgment after they had
been chosen by the people In the
States. But the political party system
soon swept all that aside. the eiec-
toral college has become fifth Wneei
in a four-wheel machine. An elector
who exercised his independent Juog-
ment and did not vote in accordance
with the wishes expressed at the polls
by the people of his State would nno
himself in a difficult, if not dangerous,
position.
Mr.. Shouse, however, proposes that
the people in the districts and STATES
shall not express their wishes regard
ing candidates, but leave the delegates
free to act for the best interests OF the
party. 1t is the Old convention IDEA
as opposed to the primary plan OF pro-
cedure. A convention of unpledged,
uninstructed delegates might, indeed,
he a fertile field for another William
Jennings Bryan a silver-tongued era
tor who could sweep such gathering
off its feet. On the other hand, con-
ventions for the nominations for Presi-
dent to which the delegates have been
sent bound by instructions have not
proved always the simple affairs they
m!gSt be assumed to be. For exam
ole. here was the Republican National
Cou&ntion in 1920 when Hiram john
sont leonard Wood and Frank o. Low
de with their instructed delegates.
br sht about a deadlock, finally
b. zen by a meeting of the bosses in
o loom in a Chicago hotel. And the
] nocratic National Convention OF
IA. in which the instructed delegates
McAdoo and Smith struggled
Trough 103 ballots and many long
sys to the compromise nomination OF
rhn w. Davis, is another sample OF
SyOo much instruction. Probably that
EH what Mr.. shouse wants to avoid.