New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-03
As To CONTESTED SEATS.

There may not be much foundation in truth
for the report which comes to our Democratic
contemporary The New-YOrk Sun" that the
Republican National Committee will be con-
vencd at ST. Louis a week before the assem-
bling of the Convention in order to take action
upon the contests for seats, of which, it Is said,
there will be at least 1J0-a number far in ex-
cess Of that at any Republican National C0nven-
ton in twenty years Our contemporary Is
usually well informed, If not absolutely In
spired. as to the political programme OF the
statesmen most conspicuous on the National
Committee, who, though in a minority, have
generously assumed the responsibility Of run
ming the Republican party and selecting its
Presidential candidate These statesmen, as 1t
now appears, have not been in entire accord with
the great mass OF Republican voters as to the
candidate, and 1t Is not impossible that they
may, notwithstanding the past weeks demon
stration of the tide Of popular sentiment, still
hold to the belief that by their control OF the
machinery Of the National organization they
can, by grand strategy or cunning tactics. turn
that tide in a contrary direction and accomplish
their original purpose. But as yet 1t does not
seem probable.
Their plan. according to this authority, is to
these preliminary contests during the week prior
TO the meeting of the Convention, It being as
sumed that these decisions will be accepted by
the Committee on Credentials as final and con-
elusive. No secret Is made Of the fact that the
managers Of what has been called 'the Pres-
dental Trust have been led to consider this
proposition seriously-if indeed they have not
already agreed upon it-because of the events
A. Lac tab l. ,,,on hav
deranged and perhaps frustrated their plans
1t Is confession. OF course, that In their en-
deavor to thwart the popular will they are re-
duced to the adoption Of what may fairly be
called desperate methods For, supposlng that
the number Of contests will reach the high hg-
IRE Of 100 and that in all OF them the supporters
OF the candidate now so clearly In the lead are
thrown out and their opponents seated by the
action Of the National Committee, 1t is not by
any means certain that even such an audacious
and shameless packing Of the Convention would
overcome the unmistakable lead Of thu popular
candidate. And what Is much more impor
tant consideration. no one who knows the tenn
per Of the Republican party as represented in
its National Conventions can for an instant
harbor the thought that the one about TO as
semble in ST. Louis would entertain a PROPOSE
ton from any source that 1t should abdlcate to
a few elf-constltuted leaders its most important
function of judging as 10 the qualifications OF
its own members.
1t is said that "the National Committee expect
the talest kind Of rumpus" over the contested
seats, and that-as the weather will be very
hot and the hearings long, and 1t is de-
sirable that the delegates should not be kept in
st. Louis longer than IS absolutely necessary
the committee will be rendering great service
by dspOsing of this business beforehand and
relieving the Convention OF much bother, delay
and discomfort. Yes; the committee or It's con
spicuous members, have evlnced the same sort
OF willingness 10 relieve the Convention OF all
the bother Of nominating a candidate. But they
may as well understand that the Convention
will be there fully equipped for all It's proper
duties. and prepared to assume all its response
bitics, whether the weather be hot or cold.
And 1t will pass its own judgment upon the
merits OF contestants and the qualifications Of
its members, after which It will select It's own
and the peoples candidate. We assume that the
eminent statesmen on the committee know this
already. If they don't, they will shortly find
II ont