The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-23
No Excuse for Over .Confid ence

An Opportune note of warning Is
sounded in an interview in the Wash
ington Post by Hon. l.. T. Michener.
the well-known Republican leader Of
Indiana, for the benefit of Republicans
who seem disposed to believe that the
| election of next November Is going
their way whether they do any work
| for victory or not. '"rhe rank and file
of the Republican party, and too many
| of its leaders," he remarks, think this
| an easy campaign--a yellow dog kind
| of contest-and have no doubt of the
whipped. The exuberant. thoughtless,
| impulsive, and unreflective attend the
primaries and are elected delegates to
the nominating conventions, where
they make weak nominations and con-
| struct unsound platforms. Strife and
discord follow. Sober-m minded men be-
| come disgusted. Party organization Is
| neglected and independent voting fol-
lows"
Mr.. Michener regards-such a result as
dangerous to Republican supremacy
| and therefore counsels that Republic
| cans everywhere get together for ef-
fective party work. fractional strife.
he points out, prevails in many states,
notably in New York and Kentucky.
This should be healed over if the best
| results are to be anticipated next No
vember. Then there is danger in the
silver problem. Upon this point Mr.
Michener says:
The free silver men are TO be found
IN nearly every community, and the num-
orally believed. They are to be found
there In all parties. They are numerous
| IN the central states and they abound in
| gates from Colorado, Utah, Idaho and
| Montana will make Il determined effort
| IN our national convention to secure nom
inees and platform to their liking, and
they do not succeed, the Republicans Of
| those states. who believe in free silver,
may feel Obliged to leave their party or
thSr hsw 9ns that
| ing of taking the latter step. At any rate,
| we are in danger of losing the thirteen
electoral votes Of those states, as well as
the votes Of some of their senators, and
possibly all their representatives. In the
| next congress, on tariff and financial
| questions. How are we to pass tariff leg
| islation through the next congress with
| out the help of the senators from those
states? That Is surely serious ques-
J ton.
Finally, he -alludes at some length to
the new American Protective associa-
tion and other patriotic society ele-
ments. pointing out that they claim a
voting membership throughout the
country of 100000 or one-third of the
entire vote cast at the last presidential
election. Even if this claim be dis
counted one-half, sufficient strength re-
mains to command serious attention
from those who wish for party sue
cess Mr.. Michener adds:
When considering the political POSSIBLE
| tiles of the future we should have in
| mind the actualities of the past. These
| societies may be likened to the old Know
| Nothing order which fiourished from 1852
| to 1860 and originated the American party
| In 1854, In which year IL carried Delaware
and Massachusetts,. In 1855 1t elected the
shire. Massachusetts, Rhode Island. Con-
comptroller and legislature In Maryland,
| and was only beaten In Virginia, Georgia,
| Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tex
| as by narrow majorlties ranging from 1000
| to 1000. The American party entered ma :.
tional politics In 1860, and In February II