The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-09-04
GIVE THE PEOPLE A CHANCE,
Editor Of The Tribune.

Sir: The newspapers Of PENNSYLVANIA
are at this time vigorously discussing and
speculatng upon the probable choice of
senator quay with reference to the presi-
uenlial nomination next year. Some Of
them say he is for Reed. others predict
that he Will favor Cameron, and few
suggest that he will be q candidate him
SELF. Nearly all Of them appear to take
Tor granted that the senator will have
absolute control Of the Pennsylvania dele
cation and that its sixty-four members
will be obedient to his wishes, no matter
what they may be. 1t never seems to
occur TO- these newspapers to ask the ques-
tion. Whom do the Republican masses
of Pennsylvania desire as their candidate
for PRESIDENT" The only proposition they
regard as worth considering is "WhO is
Senator Quay's MANI" This would imply
that in the opinion of a large majority Of
the Republican journals Of this state
Senator Quay. to all intents and purposes,
constitutes the Republican party of Penn
sylvanla, and that in the selection Of q
candidate for the presidency, in SO far as
the party in this state Is concerned, his
wishes will be undisputed and unopposed
If this be accepted as the actual situation
then indeed have the Republicans of the
keystone state ceased to be entitled 20
any consideration whatever at the hands
of Republicans In other states.
Pennsylvania stands at the head Of the
column Of Republican states. Her major
tiles have been greater than those of any
other commonwealth during the past few
years. No other state Is 80 deeply inter-
ested In the restoration of Republican
policy in our national government, and
more especially In a return to a wise and
sound protective tariff system There ia
not any doubt whatever that the Repub-
licans OF this great state have decided
preference as between the half dozen dis
tinguished men who are named In connec-
ton with the presidential nomination
n han nrf, mi
press that preference? Surely 1t Is not
too much to ask that the more than half
a million OF earnest citizens who compose
the Republican party Of Pennsylvania be
presidential candidate. County and state
conventions are not reliable exponents Of
popular sentiment. There Is only one
way by which to accurately ascertain the
with reference to the nomination Of can
didates. and that Is by giving them the
opportunity to express their individual
choice on the ballots they cast at the pri-
mary elections.
-:Il:-
How easily this can be done may be seen
by little illustrations: A week from next
Saturday the Republicans of Lackawa
will elect delegates to a county conven-
tion; The delegates then elected will
men to represent this congressional dis
trict in the next Republican national
convention. 1t may be admitted in ad-
vance that in the selection of these two
national delegates the county convention
will be controlled exclusively by consid-
eratiOns other than a personal preference
for the presidential nomination. Whether
Mckinley, Reed. Harrison. Allison. Cam
eron or Quay shall be the candidate will
receive no consideration In the county
convention. 1t follows that when the two
national delegates have been chosen no.
body will have any idea for whom their
,,~N, x.,t1I ~ t.
vention. The delegates themselves will
have no authentic guide as to the actual
preference Of the constituency they rep
resent.
1t is expected that in the election Of
the delegates to the county convention
week from next Saturday a very full Re-
publican vote will be pOlled. 1t would be
a very easy matter to ascertain how the
Republicans of Lackawanna county stand
with reference to the presidential nomi-
nation. All that would be necessary Is to
have space on the tickets for the voter
to write the name of his first and second
choice for president. II this were done
throughout the state there Is not the least
doubt that the preference Of Pennsyl-
vana Republicans would be indicated.
This would not necessarily deprive tho
delegates OF Independence OF action In the
national convention. Lackawanna Repub-
leans might express decided preference
for Mckinley and so long as there Is q
chance for his nomination the delegates
from this district would be expected to
respect the wishes of their constituents;
after that they would be free to exercise
their own judgment or even their own
preference.
-:lI:-
Senator Quay Is the recognized leader
Of the Republican party Of Pennsylvania
and will be an important and influential
factor In the national convention. That
candidate who secures his support In the
convention will be exceedingly fortunate.
1t is also important that the Pennsyl-
van!a delegation, whether wholly con-
trolled by Senator Quay or not, shall not
do violence to the sentiment and wishes
of the Republican masses In this great
Republican commonwealth. II IL a mat
ter of interest 70 know where Senator
Quay stands with reference to the presi- |
dency, but Il IL Of Infinitely more impor- |
tance to ascertain whom the more than
half million Republicans Of Pennsyl- |
varia desire nominated. That can he as
certained by submitting the question TO
the Individual voters ut the primaries |
the only place where the voters can ex-
press their preference. Give the people a |
chance! Very truly, J. d. Laciar.
Wllkes-Barre. Sept. 3.