New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-07
THE ISSUE WHICH THE VOTERS MAKE.

THE ISSUE WHICH THE |O1EhS NAME.
Tuesday added 90 delegates to the Mckinley
column out of 81 needed on Saturday. Mis-
souri, instructed 8. Illinois 4. California and
Ohio 2, and there were also Withdrawn by their
own public declaration from Morton to vote for
Mckinley from the start Besides these. were
elected from Michigan without instructions. who
are doubtless for Mckinley with all the rest
from that State The district conventions in
Missouri make certain an overwhelming ma
jority in the State Convention which will choose
more delegates, and the district conventions
in California had the same meaning, and the
State Convention yesterday met expectations
by sending delegates-at-large for Mckinley. The
unanimity in that State and Oregon makes 1t
highly probable that Washington will be found
on the same side. Thus Tuesday was probably
the turning point at which the plurality became
clear majority Of the Convention
Twenty able and worthy Republicans have
been named for the Presidency, and it may be
said without the slightest dsparagem Of
Major Mckinley that he Is not supposed to sur
pass all the others in ability fitness Of char
acter. Emnently worthy as he Is, Mckinley
has less legislative experience than Allison or
Reed. and less familiarity with foreign affairs
than Governor Morton. He owes nothing Of his
remarkable success to his financial position AL
though he many times voted to defeat and at
two critical points helped to prevent free coin
age. and declared a year ago to Southern men
who offered their support that he would not be
candidate on a free-conage platform and just
before the election of delegates began this year
made in his Chicago speech peculiarly ringing
and explicit declaration for honest money, yet
he has not done more to make his position clear
to the country on that question than others who
have voted or have spoken on the same side.
Thus he Is perpctually held up to gold-standard
States as less sound than Morton or Quay, and to
silver States as less inclined toward their views
than Allison or Reed; and these impressions,
however unfounded. have unquestonably in
huenced some against him. What, then Is the
secret of McKinley's overwhelming lead over all
other candidates, including men of larger legs
lative experience, larger knowledge Of apprO-
priatiOns, of management in difficult emergencies
in Congress- Of foreign affairs, and much larger
personal acquaintance with leading Republicans
throughout the country?
Every man Of sense knows that Mckinley dis
| tances other candidates because he more nearly
represents, to the popular thought, the thorough
fearless and uncOmpromsing Protection which
gave the country its greatest prosperity. The
working Republicans in every State know how
the voters feel In their respective districts
Whatever they may say. they are perfectly
aware that more voters are won to the Repub-
lican party by It's tariff policy and the results
Of that policy than by all other influences put
together. That Is the reason they feel. with
such unanimity, that In the words Of Senator
Quay, Mckinley would be the easiest candidate
to elect The practical workers are stalking their
own political and personal interests on the ac-
curacy Of their knowledge regarding the wishes
of voters The thousands who have controlled
more than go district and State conventions
for Mckinley know definitely what the voters
want. The voters make the predominant issue,
let the theorists Of all sorts distinctly under
stand, and the political workers and managers
have no power except to represent the will Of
! the voters