New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-06-18
A PARTY W1TH AIMS
SENATOR MILLER ON REPUBLICAN polio

IRON A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIBUNAL
HERKIMER, June 16.-Low bills. now luxgrianfIv
covered with dark grass lie to the Westward Of
this place. short distance from the village upon ore
OF the most prominent eminences is handsome Gothsc
residence. Travellers the New-York Central Rail-
road which the base of the HILL are told when
they make inquiry about this conspicuous dwelling
that it is the home Of Warner Miller Of the United
States Senators OF this State Mr.. Miller it is uni.
versally remarked. could not have selected finer site
for dwelling, overlooking as it does the Mohawk
Valley at its most beautiful point. One looks from
the residence upon broad valley encompassed by
noble hills covered yet largely with the primitive
forest But the valley highly cultivated It's level
meadows covered now with tho brightest green turf,
mako one think that they are part Of carefully.
guarded park. The Mohawk glides silver stream
through tho valley, its course marked by grand eIms
and oaks. The pretty villages Of Herkimcr and
Mohawk are below in the valley but are hardly dis
cernible hidden away they are by the thick foliage
of the trees that line their streets.
To-day Senator Miller was busy in his library
ranging his papers which had just arrived from Wash
,ngton. While thus engaged correspondent Of The
TRIBUNE surprised him ut his work. After greetings
had been exchanged the correspondent requested the
Senator to give him his views respecting what should
be the policy of the Republican party in this State this
fall and his reasons for urging the adoption Of
plan for elecing the delegates to State conventions
PARTY REORGANIZATION NECESSARY
For the first time in twenty-iour years" replied
Senator Miller. the Republican party nnds tsolf the
party of opposition in this State What to be done
Shall We ourselves by following tho example
of the Democratic party for twentyfour years past
Shall we become mere 6tstructives. Shall we like the
Democratic party for twentyfour years past, oppose
every reform measure and then finally accept 1t when
1t has won Its own victoryi Tho Republican party
cannot be pinned down to such a negative policy as
that 1t has always been party Of IDEAS ready to ac-
cept suggested reforms ready TO take the initiative IN
pressing them.
IL have advocated the adoption Of new plan for
electng State conventions in order to afford chance
for the progressive element in the Repubcon party
have an opportunity to carry their ideas into effect
Largo conventions best represent the thought Of the
party. They cannot be manipulated; candidates and
plsnks of platform more easily chosen in them
In Maine and Massachusetts, where such conventions
are bel it is observable that weeks in advance of tho
holding of a convention sometimes public sentiment
indicates the successful candidates Yo1 never hear Of
q quarrel there after the State Convention has been
held because people satisfied that the nominations
have been fairly made and that they reflect the wish OF
the party Political leaders this State have been too
much in the habit of forgetting that party organza
tons are voluntary ones. There is great difference
between an army and o voluntary organization In
one you can command; in the other you have got to
persuade II the principles of party satisfy voters,
they vote with you: II they DON'T they leave you and
YOU have no way of forcing them back 1t doesn't do
any good to denounce them, expel them formally from
your ranks and say publicly that are glad they are
gone. Of course there has to DO party discipline
and agreement set Of principles but never
theess the aim of party organization to select such
principles as will be acceptable to the largest number
of persons-so long the principles just ones and
tend to good government. The aim of a party there
fore is to attract voters and not drive them away
think the plan of iberazing State conventions
by charging them and by permitting voters directly to
elect the delegates will attract voters to tho Repubb
party"
EXPENSE OF CONVENTIONS.
What reply do you make, Senator" said the corre.
spondent. the criticism that large number OF
could not be persuaded bear the expense of
attending State ConventionP
That it is not well founded. In Maine they hold
State conventions of 400 delegates. They never
have had any difficulty in persuading to go to the
convention I have been active In politics in this
county of Herkimer for twenty years, and for twelve
years was chairman of the County Committee In all
that time never knew of there being any trouble to
get men to 60 delegates to the State Convention
and they never asked any money for their expenses
l presume that the bosses in the cities frequently
pay the transportation expenses and hotel bills OF their
delegates expecting their votes in return. II was
going to convention merely to record another mans
will should expect to have my expenses paia That
ia natural And it is natural. ALSO that the bosses
should object to an OF their bills by increase
of the size of the convention.
Do you think that there halls large enough for
such convention y
For the past ten years we have held our State COLI
ventions in halls capable Of holding 1000 persons.
That is amply large enough for purpose. As for
the objection that we couldn't call the roll Of such
convention it is sufficient reply to point to the NationA
Republican Convention with its large number OF dele
gates There the chairman of each State announced
the vote. We could have the chairman Of each OF tho
l2S Assembly districts represented announce the VOTE
1t should be said also that the plan is pressed as
farer method OF representation. Now every Assembly
District whether it Is Democratic or Republican has
one representative, one tor every 1000 Repubhcan
votes and for every district containing more than
$50 Republican votes That gives Democratic dis.
trcts which have only small Republican vote larger
proportionate representation than the Republican ones
The result Is that Republican sentiment Is largely
stied or Is not represented its strength That
is the trouble with party organization at the pres
ent time"
THE DEMOCRATS WITHOUT POLICY.
"What should be the policy OF the Republican party
at Washington ~
1t should hold fast to its policy OF protecnon 70
American industry through protective tariff maintain
the National bank system and try to stop the coinage
of the silver dollar The minority OF tho Democratic
partv is in power at Washington, and is attempting to
bring over to its opinion the majority OF the party
Randall will be made to surrender his tarn ysws 70
those of Watterson. When Congress meets in Decem-
Der the party will take long step toward nee trade.
The of the party, is nged with freetrade IDEAS
The Republican party as always S & ans tho DEM
ocrats follow the Republican policy We shall not oDecI