The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-09-29
uNJuSr AND DIsCOURTEOUS US.


 UNJUST AND DISCOURTEOUS.
 The fact has been made public, as 1t was bound to be, that MT. Benton, who was chosen chairman of the Republican State Central committee the other even ing, was not the choice of MT. Coffin for that important place. The spokes- man for Mir. Coffin at the meeting of the committee suggested two men. One was Fred A. Betts of this city, young, vigorous, loyal and honest man, who has shown much skill in politics and who possesses the full confidence of MT. Coffin. Mir. Betts was promptly rejected, thirteen of the twenty-one members of the committee who were present voting against him. Then F.. S. Day of Col chester was put forward in behalf Of Mr. Coffin. Mr. Day Is an old campaign CT. has been chairman of the commit tee, and knows all about political work He too, was promptly rejected. and then MT. Benton was chosen, thirteen members of the committee, bare ma jority of the whole twenty-four, voting for him. Thus MT. Benton, after fight ing Mr. Coffin tooth and nail before and at the convention, turned up as the manager of his campaign. And this, too, after the committee had notified MT. Coffin that 1t would accept his se- lection of a chairman, and after Mr. Benton had "declined" to be a candi- date.
 We care little about the purely polit- ical part of this strange performance. But we do not hesitate to declare that it was wrong to MT. Coffin, and that it was not in accordance with that cour- tesy which should prevail among gen. tlemen in politics. MT. Coffin had a right to select his own agent in the calnps ign. It is right which has been accorded without question to other Republican nominees for governor. It is necessary have as chairman of the committee man whom he can thoroughly trust and cenfide in. The nominee and his immediate friends often, not TO say us- ually, make the most important con- tributions tc ths campaign fund, It is duo 10 him that he should have his own agent for spending it. Situated as he is he should not have a man put upon him whom he does not choose and does not want. A committee thai acts contrary to a nominees wishes in such a matter is neither just nor courteous and a chairman who accents | the place in such circumstances puts himself vary much in the position of a man who sduals on another mans premises without right or invitation. | The only reason we have heard in support of this curious deed is that the State committee is chosen by the Re- publicans of the State to represent them and is therefore not under any obliga- tion to pay attention to the wishes of nominee, but can do as it pleases. But did the thirteen members of the committee who insulted the nominee the other evening imagine for a min- ute that they were properly represent ing the Republicans of their districts in such action? We think not We have no idea that the Republicans of any dis trict will approve such work. And when the situation is made plain to them their sympathy and their support will be with MT. Coffin.
 Three explanations of the action have been given by those who have studied the case. One is that the feeling which was engendered in the convention ran over into the meeting of the committee and that under its influence the commit tee forgot right and courtesy. Another is that thirteen members of the commit tee made up their minds that they