Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1896-07-14

AAAG Oh"HA AVN ~ F@@
Never since the unfortunate disrup-
ton OF the republican party In 1884,
when Antonio Joseph was chosen to
represent this Territory in congress,
has there been a time when 1t was so
absolutely essential to party success
that the various nominating conven-
tons shall place before the people men
whose records, regulations and capacity
are of the first order and above re-
proach. Under present conditions and
in the light Of present circumstances,
only the very strongest material should
be used. There are, doubtless, many
who, through sentimental reasons or
from reasons purely personal, may be-
lieve that the republican party should
quietly submit to machine dictation
and the whip OF self constituted bosses.
THE OPrIc believes it but expresses
the popular sentiment when It says that
this is not the bosses year. There are
also many who believe that the party
has made its longest stride toward sue
cess, when, by the voice Of the people
as expressed In convention, 1t divorces
itself from those ideas, those methods,
that selfish greed and utter disregard for
the rights and wishes Of Others which
demands, apparently at all times, an
apology, even to the dlsinterested, for
the acts Of those for which the party,
as such, is not responsible, but which
the enterprislng opponent Of republi-
can success would fasten upon its too
wearied shoulders.
Is the republican party to be the
pack horse for individual failuresr
Shall the party stand sponsor for its
nominees, who, when elected to the
are notorious for their
venalityp Shall the party be put upon
the defensive, where the situation logi-
demands an aggressive and an
offensive campaign How long shall
The party be compelled to hide its
bushes behind uplifted hands and en-
to explain away what may be
termed the idiosyncracies OF
is alleged leadersP
What measure OF success is ours.
when even in the heat and excitement
Of victory the stomach controls the
heart and demands an emeticp Shall
it always be thusp Shall we be com
t. attend conventions only to
see the voice of the plain people stran-
gled by machine rule and promises
from those in power, but whose memo
ries are measured by the exigencies Of
the momentp
If the republican party is destined to
win in New Mexico this fall, other
plans, other methods, and, in some To-
c~alities, other men, must dominate
The position taken by the ma
llonal party upon the great money issue
which now confronts the American peo-
Pile is so pronounced, so prolific of
to local success, that we must
use every available means to Offset its
baneful influence.
No party bosses, no tawning lick
,pittles, profuse in their hero worship, |
can master or suppress the voice Of the
when once uplifted in the cause
If party liberty and the right to ex-
press an individual opinion by the bal
OF at the primaries, in the conventions,
md at the polls.
If the several county, legislative and
Territorial conventions shall proceed
the selection of candidates upon the
broad grounds Of fitness, as well as
availability, then success is ours. II
he other method shall continue fash
enable among the leaders, the fashion
will become obsolete on November Sd,
nd the party will 60 with it in this
'erritory for another decade.