The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-02-05
COMMENTS ON A CONVENTION
(Tampa Tribune)


tenable.
The Fort Myers News-Press, while
favorable to a convention, disputes our
statement that the Democratic party hasn't
had platform since 1900. The News
Press proudly points to set of resolutions
adopted in 1882 by the State Democratic
Committee. The best answer to that we
have seen is in the Ocala Star which points
out that those resolutions were adopted
by majority of the minority of the State
Committee, fewer representative delegates
than are in the Senate" and that "the Com
mittee had no special authority to represent
quarter million Democrats eligible to
vote in the primaries and the general cleo
ton. The Committee did not express the
well considered opinion of Florida Demo-
Gratis in the mass. The resolutions were
very indefinite, received but little attention
and were straightway forgotten by every
body but the News-Press."
Another suggestion comes from the
Miami Herald-that, instead of conven-
ton of delegates elected by Democratic
voters, the convention be made up of the
Chairmen of the County Executive Commit
tees. That would be less representative of
the will of the Democratic voters as whole
tee. One of the purposes of the conven-
ton idea is to get an expression of Demo-
Gratis who are not active politicians, which
would be impossible in convention COM
posed of the heads of County Committees,
most of whom are practical and very active
politicians, aligned with political factions.
No, friend Herald, that wouldn't do at all.
Strong endorsement of the convention
idea is coming from the Democratic press.
The Brooksville Journal thinks it "high
time that Florida Democrats do something
regarding the platform and principles of
their party. Just what constitutes Demo-
crat is question that should be settled.
There are too many half-baked, lukewarm,
self-constituted leaders who vote Demo-
cratic during the primary and then as they
please at the election" The Key West
Citizen, while believing that the time pro-
ton which would, among other things, de-
clare for plurality instead Of majority nomi-
nation in the primary. The Citizen CON
siders law absurd that requires majority
to nominate and only plurality to elect"
The Arcadian thinks "the need for a
definite, constructive stand by the party
was never greater than now and the plan
should be carried out"
1t is up to the State Committee, at its
approaching meeting, to decide the ques-
ton. 1t alone can call convention.
Someone has raised question that
there is no statutory authority for such
convention. Since when was it necessary
to have statutory authority for strictly
party action? Is there any act of Con-
gress authorizing the holding of national
party conventions? What has the Legis-
lature to do with the procedure of party
in holding or not holding convention or
adopting any plan for its own conduct?
We are doubtful of any action by the
State Committees however, ( because we
wildly remember when this newspaper
took the lead several years ago for state
convention and when the demand for one
was heard from every part of the state,
from many Democratic organizations and
from the practically unanimous Democratic
press of the state. What happened? At
caucus held the night before the meeting
at which it was generally understood the
State Committee would heed the demand
of the party and call convention, few
politicians who didn't want a convention
got busy and killed the movement. Il wasn't
even brought before the Committee The
present Committee isn't exactly the same
Committee that thus ignored the wishes of
the party; but the same politicians are alive
and active, and we wouldn't be surprised if
they again appear, in person or by proxy,
when this Committee meets, to prevent con-
Z r A l.