The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-09-13
LET IT BE "A SHORT CAMPAIGN

OF the forty-nine members of the Re-
publican national committee, twenty
have thus far put themselves ON record
as favoring a short campaign and one
as against n. One refuses to commit
himself. The twenty-five others have not
been heard from. or the twenty-five
Democratic committeeman who have said
their say thirteen are for a short cam
paign, seven are against 1t, and five are
non-committal Thus it appears that the
Republicans are more decidedly in fa-
vor OF the new departure than the
Democrats, but that 1t is not unlikely
that q majority of the latter will decide
for short campaign.
The Democratic committeeman who
want an early convention represent Col
orado, idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Ten
nessee, Florida, and New Hampshire,
The Republican ones represent Colora-
do, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Florida, and
Mississippi. With one exception these
are not committees noted for their indus
trial activity. Therefore the evils of a
protracted political contest are not as
keenly felt there as in the great COM
mercial and manufacturing states like
New York, Massachusetts and Illinois.
The people of Florida do not have much
to amuse them, and perhaps they would
not care II a campaign were going on
about all the time Another reason per-
haps why the representatives OF some
| of the Western and Southern States ia.
vor q long campaign is that the people
| do not read as many papers as they do
| In other sections, and that therefore
more time Is needed in which to stir
them up and get them to the polls.
Some of the committeeman, while fa-
vorlng a short campaign because the
| business interests of the country are 50
| likely to be affected in the event of a
long drawn out presidential contest yet
seem to be afraid that If the conventions
are held In August there viii not be
time enough to instruct the voters, Mr..
Fessenden, the Republican member for
Connecticut, says:
ut Is to be borne In mind however,
that the great result to be attained is a
Republican victory In 1896, In order Ia
secure an increase Of the business pros
perity which has followed the recent
successes OF our party 1t appears to me
to be rather early to decide whether a
long or short campaign would best con-
ducc to the accomplishment of that re-
suit. In brief l believe II should be
our policy to give the people a full oppor-
tunlty to examine, discuss, and decide
the all-important questions that are In
volved in the campaign, so that they
may avoid the mistake of 1892 and reach
the conclusion which l am sure will be
arrived at by the thoughtful and intel
hgent voters of our country. that its
future and material growth will largely
depend upon the success of the Repub-
hcan party In 1896"
The people began examining and dis
cusslng a year ago the questions which
will be involved in next years campaign,
and they will continue to examine ana
discuss them, with the assistance of the
papers, until year from next November.
The silver question has been gone into
as thoroughly as IL q presidential cam
palgn were in progress and the tarift
question has been under constant dis
cussion ever since the consequences OF
the Democratic tarif policy began to
manifest themselves. That question has
been discussed more understandlngly
than for many years, because the people
have a great many more facts before
them than they had in 1892 when the
were held In June. and when,
after long campaign, in which the peo-
pie were given Full opportunity" to
inform themselves, they voted in favor
Of a Democratic tarlfr policy which they
are anxious now to get rid Of, as they
showed by their acts last fall.
1t cannot be assumed that the people
are going suddenly to forget the great
issues OF the day or Danish them from
their minds untll presidential candidates
have been nominated. They VIII keep
on thinking them over and reading what
The papers have to say about them, |
There VIII be abundant time. therefore.
Il the conventions are held In August
10 inform the voters concerning the spe- |
,lai merits Of the candidates. II they !
reed information. and also 70 call their I
attention to the new issues OF the day I!
I any appear In the party platforms.