The record-union., 1896-04-25
Eastern Business offices.
THE UNPLEDGED DODGE.

At the outset the Record Union" was
strongly in favor of an unpledged dele
cation to the st. Louis Convention.
Even at the present time we think it
would be the most dignified position for
California to assume, and yet it is alto
gether apparent that the people of Cali
fornia desire the nomination Of Nc
Kinley. It is never judicious to ignore
the rank and file Of the party in matters
of this kind Good politics requires that
the choice of the people shall be ratified
by the national convention. The Ques-
ton as to who will be a popular candi-
date is one difficult of determination, and
the best indication of the availability OF
any candidate is the spontaneous upris-
ing Of the average voter on his behalf.
The average voter in the ranks Of the
Republican party to-day is for McKin-
ley. Why then should there be any
hesitation about placing California in
his column? We want popular candi-
date. We have found him by every
indication which proclaims his popu-
larity. Why then commit the folly Of
one whom the voters appear to desire?
The Mckinley wave has risen to its very
crest, and Republican success even will
be measurably reduced unless the con-
vention at st. Louis ratifies the popular
demand.
Long ago we predicted this result. 1t
was as obvious in the forecast as 1t Is
now in the accomplished fact. The
Republicans want victory. They under
stand fully that they cannot make a
platform of the money issue that will
satisfy all sections of the country. They
want to overlay all other issues with the
question Of high protection There is a
prevalent belief that the restoration Of
Mckinley and McKinleyism will at the
same time restore the prosperity of the
country. Upon that simple belief the
campaign should be run, and II 1t is so
conducted it will reach a successful
Issue.
The nomination Of Mckinley will add
q momentum to the movement in favor
of the Republican party and sweep on
80 an overwhelming victory. The noni-
nation of any other candidate at this
time will simply check the rising tide of
enthusiasm, will confer new color upon
the issues Of the time and 1eopardize the
whole situation.
when we hear of a com hin a tion
against Mckinley we may know that
the purely politician class intend. If
possible, to defeat the will of the peo-
pie. What business have the mana
gers acting for other candidates TO
desire to defeat the will Of the people
The party has a right to it's most pop
ular candidate. There Is no objection
70 Mckinley. The Allison man is for
Allison, but he Is not against McKin-
ley The Quay man is for Quay, but
he is not against Mckinley. With 50
per cent of the voting strength of the
Republican party behind him, it will
be exceedingly bad politics to disap-
point this vast majority of a party by
AoAhAiL1$AAk - Afoh ~ oOSS hf'l
want. In the case of Mckinley we have
an instance of the nomination Of a
Presidential candidate by the voters
of the party themselves. No politician
who has skill enough to run ward in
oity will mistake the significance OF
this. No man who does not put himself
above his party and place his private
interests above the interests Of the
party will seek any other candidate.
We do not say these things because
Mckinley is our candidate, for we have
no candidate in this case. The Record
Union" is entirely Independent of party
trammels, but we are describing a
condition which the dullest comprehen-
sion cannot fail to recognize. The Re-
publican party in the United States
has nominated Mckinley. The politi-
clans will defeat him only at the peril
of weakening the party in the coming
campaign. If any other man shall be
nouainatsd ct St Louis he win be taa