The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-01-25
STATE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION

In a letter to The Citizen, Perry G..
Wall of Tampa, suggests a state Demo-
cratic convention be held to "give the
democracy of Florida chance to consider
and pass on such important questions as
(here he lists several matters, proper legis-
lation of which would promote the inter-
ests of the state).
At first glance, the editor of The Citi-
zen thought the purpose of the convention
was to nominate candidates for various
state offices, resumption of which pro-
cedure he opposes, but he believes that a
convention for the type of action outlined
in the letter would prove advantageous, as
representatives and senators now fire.
quently go to the legislature with barely
an inkling sometimes not even that) of
the sentiment or attitude of the people of
the state on questions of statewide i'm
portance.
However, The Citizen feels confident
that the time proposed by Mr.. Wall for the
calling of the favored convention would
prove impracticable the holding of the
convention between the first and second
primaries.
ut will give the two high candidates
for all state offices an opportunity to meet
representative Democrats from all over the
state and help formulate a democratic
policy"
AS there is only three weeks time be-
tween the first and second primaries, and
as the campaign in the second primary is
always far tenser and more exacting for
canvassing and speechmaking than the
first primary, what candidate, particularly
one seeking statewide suffrage, could spare
the time to attend such a convention?
Probably he would find time to rush
to the convention, make speech about his
stand on certain questions and rush away
again, but, if he is a good politician he
would know that run-in-and-run-out visit
like that would not be good politics, es-
pecially so if he left his opponent at the
convention hall.
A candidate, if he is good politician,
would realize the power of representatives
at such a convention, with all kinds of
questions that would concern aspirants for
all offices likely to pop up at any moment,
and he would realize further it would be
important to his cause for him to stay at
the convention from the time it opened
until it finally adjourned, something he
would be unable to do without curtailng
his chances of being nominated by discon-
tinuing his campaigning elsewhere in the
state.
The Citizen has always opposed the
holding of two primaries to select Demo-
cratic nominees, as it considers law alb
surd that requires majority to nominate
and only plurality to elect.
Such procedure implies that nomi-
nation is more important than an election.
1t is easy enough to see the wisdom of a
law that requires only plurality to nomi-
nate and majority to elect, but the re-
verse of that condition is ridiculous.
For that reason The Citizen believes
that the first thing Democratic leaders in
Florida should do is to change that provi-
sion of the primary laws that requires a
majority to nominate to plurality. Were
that done, one primary would be sufficient,
and Mr.. Wallis proposed Democratic con-
ventiOn could be held two or three months
before primary day.
CDEEI EXsc ia MnOUpIrIMr