The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-11-12
The Root of the Difficulty.

We observe in the Lancaster Exam
iner, a Republican journal of inde-
pendent proclivities, the following
timely and sensible words, which are
worthy of iteration and re-iteration
until their import is thoroughly appre-
Ciated:
Too much rigidty in party lines for
bids expansion and progress and leads
to corruption; but on the other hand, cX-
Cessive CapriciousnCss is the father of
chaos and experiments. There would be
no necessity for .Augwumpery if there
We're more sturdy fights within party
lines at the primary elections. Parties
are necessary and will exist for many Il
generation to come. The mass of people
will rally around a central idea or par
ticular men. To have both of the best
will not come from inaction or paper
criticisms, but by united effort of the
ahest and wiscst element i'm each party
organization battling for the best. Now
and then casting a ballot for revenge
may win, but change is not reform.
Turning from an indifferent Republican
TO a worse Democrat is a foolish pro-
Ceeding. The true effort and the only
thing to make Mugwumpery or general
independence respectable and fOrCcful is
to render it's power potent at the pr-
mary. There is the battle ground for the
true men of every party.
conference of prominent citizens Of
New York state is to be held soon to
consider plans of legislation for the
better safeguarding Of the will of the
people at the primaries in that COM
monWcalth and its deliberations will
possess interest for friends of good gov
ernment everywhere. They will be es-
pecially interesting to the Republicans
Of LaCkawanna countrywide have pend
ing before them a proposition to do
away with the present methods of Sc
lecting candidates and to substitute in
lieu thereof the Crawford county sys-
TEN Of direct nominations by a free
party primary vote. The effort has been
made i'm this county to make it appear
that the wish for better primaries is
confined to a certain politically motor
iOus and dscredited local faction head
ed by some of the worst heelers and
boodlers that ever befouled the poll
tics of any community; but it need
deceive no one. Whatever proposed
changes from the present system shall
upon due examination hold out the
promise Of better results or lead ito n
more general and honorable participa-
tion by the mass Of citizens i'm the
making of nominations for office will
be cordially welcomed and approved
by the present leadership in the
county's RepubliCanism
At the same time 1t is only fair to
warn the sanguine advocates of these
and other reforms in the modus oper-
andi of modern politics that until the
voters themselves, as individuals, take
in the large majority Of instances an
elevated view Of their duties as citl-
zcns and show a Willingness to work
unselhshly and voluntarily for better
results, changes in method will not be
followed by noticeably improved con-
sequences. The fountain of political
achievement cannot rise higher than its
source. Those who lay great stress on
| the virtues of new methods should not
| forget that reform in men is the great
| thing needful in government where
| every male citizen above 21 years of
| age, good, bad and Indifferent, is a
! nominal king