The record-union., 1899-02-18
A QUESTION OF PERSONAL RE
SPONSIBILITY.

A QUESTION OF PERSONAL RE-
SPONSIBILITY.
One line of argument advanced py
those who refuse to consent to a party
council to break the Senatorial dead
lock, runs something after this order
stating the proposition in the case for
instance of a single objector: 1 am
Republican, I believe in the party ana
in party organization as the only
means to desired ends. would be will
ing to go into a caucus or council, but
for the fact that possibly man may
be chosen as result whom I do not
think should be elected to the position
Let us examine this proposition and
see to what it leads. When citizen Is
chosen by strong party vote to ofaclal
place in the Legislature he IS sent there
not only to. do the ordinary duties in
volved by Legislation and examination
into State affairs, but. also to represent
the principle upon which the people
made his election secure.
The Republican triumph last fall
hinged upon the support of the Admin
istration. 1t was an emphatic and un-
mistakable expression Of the people
that the Republican administration
should be- supported and conserved in
its policy. EVERY man elected upon the
Republican ticket knows and realizes
that fact fully. Now it is essential
that every Republican vote due in the
Senate of the United States should be
there, and that no vacancy shall occur.
Failure tog elect Senator in California
will leave the Republican majority in
the United States Senate one short It
will therefore be direct injury to the
Administration to permit a California
seat to remain vacant. i-t
Whenea citizen Is chosen to the Legis-
lature upon a party ticket he should
not take himself so seriously as to pit
his personal judgment or desire against
the orderly expressed wish of the
party. That wish is ascertainable only
along the usual lines of establishing
majorities. The legislator was himself
chosen first by a majority vote of his
party in primary or convention, and he
submitted to that political arbiter. He
appealed to the rule Of the party and
abides by the result of its application.
Our nation Is governed in precisely the
same way by the determined majority
expression in Congress, and Congress is
chosen most largely upon party lines
through the adoption Of the majority
rule
The legislator in the Capitol. there
fore, Is there not only to use his per-
sonal judgment as lawmaker, but he
is there likewise to make efficient the
Will of his party upon strict party con-
Germ, and this Senatorial matter is con-
ceded to be a party matter, since the
dominance of one political organization
TO the exclusion of all others, makes
that dominant party responsible for the
choosing Of a. Senator
The conscientious legislator, there
fore, can go into party council with
perfect propriety and cleanliness Of
soul. opposing the very man he thinks
may be chosen, and whom he does not
wish to be elected. But If he enters the
caucus or council and makes the best
hight he can against such candidate,
and the majority decides against him.
his hands are clear of the result. He is
no longer responsible to his Judgment.
He has discharged the duty to his party
by entering its council and abiding by
Its traditional rule and custom. the only
one possible that will prevent disrup-
ton of party and its break I'D into
warning factions. The majority has
become responsible and the individual
objector to the person decided upon is
Tree from criticism of conscience or
constituency.
Bur II such a legislator, while ad-
mitting that the democratic principle of
the majority prevails properly in all
other political concerns in legislative
affairs and mainly in the representative
system in States and in the nation, who
obstructs the operation Of that princt-
pie by his personal likes or dislikes and
his refusal to council, assumes fearful
responsibility He undertakes the re-
sponsihility Of reversing the triumph
OF his party at the polls and of its fu-
aure defeat He assumes the response
pihty for the vacant seat in the Sem
ate; he assumes the entire responsible
ity of throwing down and spurning the
usual just and only practicable meth
DDS OF giving efficiency to the will of
the party.