The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-01
An Unfair Argument .

A peculiar argument is made by the
Chicago Times Herald in behalf of Me-
Kinley. 1t is that Pennsylvania and
New York and the other northern states
which cast the largest percentage OF
the total Republican vote ought not tc
be deferred to in Republican national
conventions, because they are safe any
way. Upon this principle, states which
are faithful to the party should be
ignored because of their faithfulness
and the fatted calf should be killed and
cooked for the delectation of the erratiC
and uncertain prodigal sons. The
Times Herald doesn't state the case in
quite SO many words, but tbis is a faii
inference from what 1t does say, which
follows:
The influence of the great states-mean-
ing thereby New York and Pennsylvania
was more potent In the nominations and
presidential elections OF past years than
II Is today. 1t used to be said that "as
Pennsylvania goes so goes the union,
but that dctum no longer prevails nor
can prevail In the early days, when the
states We're few In number, those that
possessed the largest population neccs-
sarily had the greatest power. Naturally
enough for many years these states were
all-powerful, not only in debating candi'
dates but also in electing them, and in
nearly every election from the time of
Jefferson to the present day New York
has been represented OH one ticket or the
other of the contending parties. or the
vice-presdents New York has had Burr.
Clinton. TOmpkins, Van Buren, Fillmore.
Morton
these, Fillmore and Arthur, succeeded to
the presidency by virtue Of their office.
OF presidents elected by the people New
York has had Van Buren and Cleveland.
Pennsylvania has not Jared quite SO well,
having had one vice-presldent, George NJ.
Dallas, and one president. james Buchan-
an. But the scepter Is now passing away
from these great states. and their infln-
ence Is no longer material. In the last
presidential election Cleveland did not
elected without New York. The electoral
strength of the people Is passing to the
middle west. and 1t will be the states
lying between the Alleghanies and the
Missouri which will determine the next
election. Thus 1t IL evident that the peo-
pie have nothing to fear from the bosses
of New York and Pennsylvania.
We must confess that we cannot see
the justice of our bright but prejudiced
contemporary argument. A national
convention Is family affair. 1t should
be place where loyalty and steadfast-
ness are not ostracised. 1t should be a
place where honors are given in ex-
change for demonstrated merit-and by
merit we mean not necessarily the
glamor of superficial popularity resting
upon no solid foundation of worthy
performance, but merit covering va
riety Of tests and not forgetting politi-
cal service. 1t should, in Republican
form the party's backbone can get, at
least once in while, fair treatment and
a fair share of the honors. With spec
ial reference to Pennsylvania we
should say that the wishes Of delega-
ton having behind 1t a quarter OF a
million Republican plurality ought In a
Republican national convention to re-
ceive certainly as much consideration
as the wishes Of the carpet-bag delega-
tions from the voteless south or those of
the volatile delegations from the tickle
northwest.
If an army We're to choose its general,
would the camp followers. the raw re-
cruits or the trained regulars be consid-
cred the best judges of his qualifica-
tions?