and since this amendment has such a far-
reaching effect, I suggest that when a vote
is taken on this amendment, it be by a roll
call vote and thereby give all of my friends
a voice.
THE CHAIRMAN: The Chair will take
the recommendation under consideration.
DELEGATE WILLONER: Mr. Chair-
man, I unfortunately have to operate with-
out the microphone. The historical similes
that Mr. Scanlan seeks to use by saying
that organizations have some method of
checking appointment power for the pur-
pose of committee chairmanships is not
altogether correct. This morning before I
decided I was going to offer this, I went
through the British system and I assume
that we are closer to a parliamentary sys-
tem. Since we do not have a true executive
or what we call separation of power,, and
there are checks and balances within the
parties, caucuses, the committee chairmen
work and decide ahead of time. There are
all kinds of ways of working this out.
If this will be under the proposed rule,
not the amendment, one man deciding the
entire Convention make-up can, if he so
chooses, and I hope this is not the case,
staff this. Convention -with his own commit-
tees. He can staff every committee with
the kind of people he wants, to bring out
the kinds of proposals he wants.
Even though the majority want it that
way, I feel this would be a danger. I do not
see any harm in the rule at all, because
let's hope we get a harmonious group and,
if we do, they will work it out by consulta-
tion.
THE CHAIRMAN: The Chair recognizes
Delegate—
DELEGATE ROSENSTOCK: Benjamin
Rosenstock, Frederick County.
THE CHAIRMAN: The delegate has the
floor and a parliamentary inquiry is in
order.
DELEGATE WEIDEMEYER: That is
essentially my point. I just wanted to an-
swer that.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Rosenstock.
DELEGATE ROSENSTOCK: Mr. Presi-
dent, if this body is to select a president in
whom they have confidence, whom they will
expect to lead this Convention to a success-
ful fruition, then we must have confidence
in that man or one to select committees
that will aid him in carrying on our work.
I am opposed to the amendment. |
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate—
DELEGATE CHABOT: My name is
Chabot, from Montgomery County. I would
like to comment briefly on two of the argu-
ments that were presented. We were told
when the rules were first brought before us
that they were patterned upon Michigan
and we are now told that we should not
adopt a certain amendment because it was
in the Michigan set of rules.
I am not sure under these circumstances
whether Michigan is a good example in
favor of a provision of these rules or an
example against a provision of these rules.
I do not know whether Michigan worked.
Evidently, it is more useful for us to con-
sider what would work here.
As to the question of a triumvirate, I
think that the argument that Mr. Scanlan
made makes sense, if you assume that the
one man elected to be president would be
someone who has the considerations of the
Convention at heart and that the two who
are elected as vice-presidents are elected
for purposes other than perhaps presiding
over the Convention and responsibly par-
ticipating in the work of the Convention.
If we assume that we will elect responsible
people as vice-presidents,then I think a
triumvirate can be trusted more than one
man.
THE CHAIRMAN: The Chair recognizes
Delegate Wheatley.
DELEGATE WHEATLEY: A parlia-
mentary inquiry. May we adopt a rule
where a motion to move the previous ques-
tion would be in order?
THE CHAIRMAN: I think a motion for
the previous question is in order.
DELEGATE WHEATLEY: With the
history and efficiency and the various argu-
ments made pro and con, I think at this
time we can decide by calling a roll for a
vote on the previous question.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Scanlan.
DELEGATE SCANLAN: Mr. Presi-
dent, I yield to Mr. Rybczynski before the
previous question.
DELEGATE RYBCZYNSKI: Delegate
Rybczynski, First District, Baltimore City.
Mr. Chairman, it occurs to me that it is
well that this discussion takes place at this
time before our President is elected, for
THE CHAIRMAN: For what purpose
does the delegate rise? |
