The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-21
REpuBLIcANrsM IN cRANsroN.

is not State issue, nor yet party issue.
The stake is the continued supremacy OF
the existing leadership in the Republican
party organization.
We have heard a great deal on one SIZE
and the other of the claims for the sup
port of Republicans by the friends of the
two Republican candidate, for Senator
who are pitted one against the other,
EDWARD STANLEY, who is the nominee
of Republican caucus, and SYLVESTER
X. MERRILL, the present Senator, who IS
running on nomination papers signed by
Republicans, and who has also received
the nomination OF the Democratic eau
Gus. Charges and counter charges have
been freely made. but the real trouble is
evidently more deep seated than those fea-
lures of the actual struggle that has
been precipitated would indicate.
We have from time to time made note
Of the fact that there is a strong opposi-
tion in the Republican ranks in Cranston
against the party leadership. This OPP
position has been frequently expressed
and the present contest is nothing more
or less than its breaking out into an ac-
tive revolt. On the side of Candidate
STANLEY is the regular organization 80
far as it may bs holding together and
on the side of Senator MERRILL appear to
be practically the whole Republican
strength of what Is in percentage the
strongest Republican district in the town
second to the leading Republican district.
How much Republican strength Senator
MERRILL has In the other four districts
is an open question, though 1t Is un-
likely that he can claim any such proper
tion of it as the regular rarty nominee
may look for. But the fact that prac-
tically the whole of a most important Re-
publican district is with Senator MER-
RILL justifes his continued claim to be
considered a Republican candidate, and
makes clear the situation as revolt of
strong Republican body against the bal
ance of the organization.
The town of Cranston is overwhelm-
iugly Republican. The Republican party
is responsible to the citizens for what
ever of good government or bad govern
ment there is in the administration of
local affairs or for any position the town
may take In it's relation to State or ma
tional affairs. And 1t has been plainly
made evident before now that a good
many citizens of the town, who are Re-
publicans, stand in opposition to the ad-
ministration which is Republican. In
this situation II has devolved upon Rspub-
licans themselves to adjust matters and
Senator MERRILL has represented the OPP
position. To maintain the control OF
affairs and to suppress the opposition, the
party leadership has taken the only step
open to II which was to crush Senator
MERRILL and seek a justification at the
hands OF the voters. This was an entire
ly legitimate and proper step to take,
although the claim of the regular organi-
zatiou to the support OF its candidate,
regardless of the party quarrel, on the
ground that State and national issues are
at stake in the coming election has no
basis in fact. Republicans throughout
the State regard Senator MERRILL as
Republican quite as much as they do
Mr.. STANLEY. Whichever i, elected will
make no earthly difference to the Repub-
lican strength in the General Assembly or
To regarded as having any effect in the
Republicanism OF the town OF Cranston
as 1t is related to Republicanism in the
State. The result will simply indicate
whether or not the present Republican
administration OF the town of Cranston
Is to remain in power or is to be "turned
down" in favor OF different men and
different methods.
Personally, SO far as we know, the
rival candidates may lay claim to an
equal share of the party favor, though
undoubtedly voters will In a measure
by their votes express their views
as to the respective ability of the candi-
dates cs Legislators. But the Republican
revolt is not an attack on Mr.. STANLEY,
but represents the breaking out into an
active uprising against the present
party management. Oustside the town
nobody cares to either criticise or endorse
party methods in Cranston. The Repub.
licaus Of the town know their own bust.