The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-03-07
PARTY DECENTRALIZATION.


The most unfortunate situation that
can befall great cause is one in which
its adherents prove themselves to be
wanting in the honest zeal for the trf-
umph of that cause which enables its
leaders to forego obstructive personal
ambition, or where such leaders are
wanting in that degree of intelligence
necessary to effective organized effort.
Just now the Republican party of
fortune of party Reorganization which
will infiict upon it the humiliation Of
defeat, Notwithstanding political vic
tory at the polls has placed in the hands
of its leaders the opportunity of politi-
cal success.
If those who will be responsible for
this result suppose for a moment that
they, individually or collectively, will
not be held to strict accountability by
the rank and file of the party they are
very much mistaken. The masses Of
men judge Aof their leaders by the stand
ard Of success solely, and are never dis
posed to, give excusatfve explanations
any serious attention. That a trusted
leader has failed is all that is necessary
to- destroy his prestige. That a would
be leader has contributed to defeat is
necessarily fatal to his ambition for
leadership.
Clearly perceiving these things, the
Record Union in common with the
entire Republican press of the State of
California, demanded that the differ.
ences which have eventuated in the
Senatorial deadlock be left to the arbi-
trament of a party council The propo-
sition was+met with the declaration that
a party council could have but one re-
cult, namely, the election of one of the
leading candidates. The objection was
absurdhon its face, even though its pre-
dictions might have been fulfilled The
object of the council was to secure a
Senator in Congress for six years COM
mencing on the fourth of the present
month. The declaration that it would
result in the election of a Republican to
the United States Senate did not con-
stitute an objection entitled to respect
full consideration. If sober, conserva-
tive, orderly conference of the legisla-
tive members. into whose hands the
task of selecting a United States Sena-
tor had been committed, would have re-
suited in the choice of any man, that
result would have been proof positive
that the candidate so selected possessed
the popularity and the personal quail
fieation justifying his choice to the office
Of United States Senator. In brief, if
deliberate party council would newt
ably choose candidate, that candi-
date must necessarily be the choice of
the party's representatives.
The pressure of party opinion. how
ever, could not be resisted, and a party
council was held. The action of that
council furnished unmistakable evil
dence that Colonel Burns, the candidate
in whose interest it had been claimed
the council was called, did not hold
anything beyond a balance of power
between the candidates. Over his op-
position and the opposition of his adj
herents the council was adjourned with
out time.
This manifestation of political
strength on the part of the opposition
to Colonel Burns appears to have
taught them nothing. They appear to
be unable to draw correct differences
from actual facts.
From the very outset the adherents
of other candidates have appeared to
beifeve that Colonel Burns was the in
evitable choice of party council. ana
yet at the same time they have con-
tended that his claim of additional
strength to that which has been openly
cast for him was a vain glorious boast.
The very men who are wont to declare
that council of the party in which
majority shah determine the final re-
suit will inevitably choose Colonel
Burns are at the same time found de-
claring that his entire strength amounts
10 less than one-third Of the numerical
strength of the council itself.
From all this it is clearly manifest
that the opponents of Colonel Burns
have carried on this Senatorial contest
under the duress of a panic. They
appear to be in a state of demoraliza-
ton, in which they also appear to be
incapable of united action against
Burns candidacy. They are afraid Of
even a combination between them
selves. With hating and hesitating
timidity they entered a council of the
party, and troubled by the fear that
some leader of the party might have a
majority If the deliberations of the
council We're continued. they readily
combined to adjourn the council sine
die. What their intelligence had denied
them in the way of combination, their
fears seem to have supplied They
demonstrated to themselves if they had
possessed the capacity for drawing cor
rect differences their ability to control
a party council. They declared that
the candidate. OF whose candidacy they
stood in such terror, possessed less
than a third of the assembled voting
strength of the council itself They
maintain that position to the present
time. but Notwithstanding the demon
etrafion of their combined strength
they either. did not possess the political