The San Francisco call., 1896-03-06
THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Under the force exerted by the near ap-
proach of the time Of holding the National
| conventions of the great parties OF the
country, the varied elements that MAKE up
| the political complexion oil the people are
being rapidly crystallized into definite
! groups and forces. Republicans, Demo-
Gratis and Populists are organizing. lnde-
pendents are separating themselves from
esta blished parties. Good men are uniting
for the ,ublic welfare and bad men are
confedera.ing for selfish interests. 1t is
a time when every political event must
be carefully studied by the people lest any
should be betrayed into joining the wrong
groups time when the press should
speak plainly that the people may know
the truth and see where honor and the
public welfare stand.
The forces crystsllizing these various
groups have been very notable in the Re-
publican party of California within the
last few days. They have been strong
enough to make already a well-defined
line of cleavage between those true Re-
publicans who would use the party as an
association of patriots to uphold great
principles of government, and those self
styled Republicans who seek to make the
party q machine to be operated for the
interests of individuals or corporations.
This line of cleavage was made clear I'M
mediately after the recent meeting Of the
Republican State Committee. At that
meeting it was decided to follow the rec
ommendation of the National Com mittee
and place the election of delegates to the
party convention under the control OF
Congressional committees. This was so
| much of an innovation on the established
order OF the party in California that in
many OF the Congressional districts it was
found that no district committees were In
existence. 1t became necessary to pro-
vide them, and in undertaking this, the
cleavage was Immediately manifest.
a minority of the State Com mittee
sought to take advantage of the new rule
to overthrow the local organization of the
party and place all power in the hands OF
few bosses. To achieve that result they
proposed to appoint State Committee OF
five, clothed with authority to appoint
Congressional committees wherever they
did not already exist. That proposition
was promptly voted down by the loyal
Republicans of the State Committee, and
the bosses met their first defeat. Imme-
diately after the adjournment of the State
Committee, however, they conspired
together and began to devise plans to OBJ
tain by indirection that which they had
failed to gain by the suddenness of their
first trick.
In this complexion of affairs it behooves
all loyal Republicans to adopt plan of
action upon which they can agree and by
which they can unite to save the party
organization from the manipulators who,
almost avowedly, are working for the
Southern Pacific of Kentucky. In urging
the adoption of such plan The CALL has
no new or cunning scheme to offer. 1t
simply invites the Republican press OF the
interior to cooperate in advising all Re-
publicans to demand of their Congress
sional committee the adoption OF the old
old plan is the best plan. 1t is honest,
and honesty is what we wish.
We urge the plan with the more earnest
ness because the Congressional committee
of the First District has virtually
adopted it. This proves it to be plan
which commends itself naturally to Repub-
licans. Moreover, we believe it to be a
plan which the rank and file of the party
demand with more than usual ardor at
this time. The issues OF the campaign
are great. The convention will be i'm
portant. Is it not right that every loyal
Republican should have voice in de-
| termining the issues OF the one by the
free exercise of the privilege of casting a
vote in the electi0n of the CeleoateS who
are to represent him at the other?