Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-12-20

Caucus Means Political Suicide For
Young Men.
Especial Correspondence.)
Harrisburg, Dec. 1S.-Another bIuff
of the insurgents of Pennsylvania has
just been called by friends of Col. NJ
S. Quay. A short time ago it was an
nounced by the Martin-F'linn insurgent
organs that the supporters of Col
Quay were afraid to have caucus Of
the Republican members elect of the
legislature, as they knew that such a
caucus would show that Col. Quay had
not enough votes to elect him to the
United States senate. Following out
their usual custom of claiming every
thing these insurgent newspapers have
been day after day declaring that they
have Quay licked" but they never
could give list of names of Republi-
can members of the senate and house
who would remain out of the caucus
and cooperate with the Democrats. as
did the insurgents in the last session
of the Legislature.
After their boasts that the regulars
dared not have a caucus, the insur-
gents were completely taken back when
Senator John C. Grady and Representa-
tive William H. Keyser, the Oldest Re-
publican members Of the respective
branches of the legislature. met in ac-
cordance with custom and decided that
the Republican members of the general
assembly shall be called in caucus on
Jan. l next at p. M, in the hall of
the house of representatives at Har-
rtuhnro IN a a candidate fn ho
supported by the Republican members
of the legislature for United States SEN
ator.
This action, following so quickly
after the claims of the insurgents, may
lars and indicating that they are en-
tirely satisfied with their position, and
that they have absolute confidence in
himself.
EARLIEST DAY CHOSEN.
The legislature meets for organiza-
tion on Tuesday Jan. /, and on the
evening of that day the friends of Col
Quay say they will be prepared to
meet the issue on the United States
senatorship, and that they are satis-
fed that there will be more than the
necessary number of votes to elect
recorded in favor of the Beaver states
man on that occasion.
So confident are the admirers of the
former national chairman of the vic
tory which is due him that already
there are number of clubs and dele
cations preparing to go to Harrisburg
and participate in great demonstra-
tiOn in honor of his victory on the first
of the year. 1t is declared that with
the adjournment of the Republican
caucus on the senatorship the fight will
be over and the so-called insurgent
movement will go to pieces
There has been considerable discus
sion of the question of the duty of
Republicans to recognize their organ
ization in the matter of the party eau
Gus and submitting to the will of the
majority. An interesting declaration on
this issue comes from Livy S. Richards,
editor of the Scranton Tribune.
AS TO THE CAUCUS.
"A general discussion of the nature
and binding force of party caucus.
particularly of caucus of Republican
members of the legislature to select a
nominee for United States senator" ,"
gays Mr. Richards. ''is proceeding in
the press of the state. with opinions
varying in reflection of every hue of
factional prejudice. Let us, therefore,
examine this interesting and timely
subject judicially.
ITO begin with. it may be set down
as generally conceded that political
parties are necessary to the orderly
and sustained operation of govern
ment There is no limit, and should
be no limit to the number of these
parties. The right Of citizen to Join
with other citizens In formation of a
new party is interchangeable and
wholesome as a means of expressing
different shades Of public opinion.
But where sharp differences of opin-
ion or of personal choice exists within
the membership Of q political party
and recourse to q new party Is not
adopted, 1t Is plain that methods of
reaching conclusion must be taken
and these, by custom, are clearly de-
fined. If the difference ia over the
choice for nominee for an elective Of
fice the. party primary is utilized and
the choice Of the largest number is
legally entitled to have his name ap-
pear on the official ballot as the regu-
lar party nominee. The law does not
compel those who in the primaries
favored minority candidates to vote
at the ensuing election for the plural
ity's choice, but 1t recognizes the right
OF plurality to determine party cre-
dentials. and there is a widely OBJ
served custom of viewing unfavorably
the citizen who, after participating in
primary and being fairly outvoted,
thereupon proceeds to attack the plu-
rality's choice.
Where the Office to be filled is cleo
tive by legislature, as In the case of
the United States senatorship, the law
Is entirely silent as to preliminary
methods Of arriving at concurrence
OF party support, but long established
custom has ordained the party caucus,
which Is concurrence Of the members
OF a marty chnOcA from ovnnpu fho