Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1890-03-28
Give The People a Chance.

''when the Republican Committee of
Butler County the other day voted down
resolution to enable the party voters at the
primaries to express their preferences for
candidate for Governor it must have for
gotten the action ON this subject in Re-
publican State Conventions The State
Convention of 1888 put the following in the
platform:
1t is the sense of the Convention that the
freest and fullest expression of Republican
sentiment should be encouraged and sought
in the primary meetings, which are the
fountain of party action and source OF pop
ular rule.
That declaration is thoroughly Repub-
lican in its character, and it is the only
course for the party to pursue. This reso-
luton was born of the disastrous exper
ience of 1882, and the policy ofsuppressing
the popular voice in making delegates and
having everything done through county
committees, which had been so much prac
ticed. 1t was protest, not against candi-
dates, but against methods which substan-
tally gave the people no voice.
What the Butler County Committee
means by its action it is not easy to see.
1t is the highest privilege of the citizen to
express his preference for candidates for
public Office, and not the slightest obstacle
should be thrown in the way of that. On
the contrary, as the State Convention reso-
luton says, "the freest and fullest ex-
preston of Republican sentiment should
be encouraged and sought in the primary
meetings" The Butler County Committee
has taken position exactly the reverse of
this.
The action of the committee, however,
need not prevent the party voters from ex-
pressing their choice at the primaries. In
fact, under the circumstances, it seems
particularly important that they should do
so. None can speak for them SO well as
they can speak for themselves, and, as
they are '.the fountain of party action and
source of popular rule" there is no way Of
knowing what the party action should be
unless they speak.
The interference with nominations by
county committees has had its day. 1t
was condemned and the people broke away
from it in 1882. There is not only no de-
mand for q restoration of it, but it may be
taken for granted that any attempt in that
direction will call out popular protest.
When party action is based upon the peo-
ple's will no mistake can be made"
The above is from the Philadelphia
Press, the leading Republican paper of the
State; and it does good service for the
party in bringing to light the resolution of
the State Convention of 1888. Had the
motion made to our county convention
been more fully discussed and better
understood it would probably have carried.
As it is, the present campaign for the Re-
publican nomination for Governor, in which
the Chairman of the State Committee il
travelling over the State, setting up dele
gates for his pet for the office, and using
the power in the hands of our q. S. Sen
ators to accomplish his ends, will probably
be an eye-opener for the Republicans all
over the State. The only way to stop such
work is by requiring the rank and file of
the party to name the candidates for the
State offices, and it will be very easy
matter for them to post themselves on the
merits and claims of the respective candi-
dates. 1t is not too late yet for the Re-
publcans of this county to inquire of the
gentlemen who have announced their de-
sire to be members of the State convention
as to their proposed action, and to endeavor
to remedy the matter, if necessary, by
bringing out other candidates whose views
and theirs accord. ----'
Another matter that the Republicans of
the county should take into consideration
at the coming primary is that of United
States Senator. The term of ]. Donald
Cameron expires next March, and his
successor is to be elected by the State
legislature that meets next winter.
Pennsylvania, the second State in the
Union in population, and the first in
material and manufacturing interests, is
represented in the National Senate by two
daring politicians, neither of whom seems
to have much aptitude or capacity for the
real business of the Nation, or spends
much time in the Senate chamber.
The State is practically unrepresented in
the Senate, and men who show capacity
for public affairs are pushed aside for the
favorites of those in power.
This, also, can be remedied, or at least
bettered, at the primaries by the popular
vote, and the sooner we come to it the
better