The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-05-10
ELklN AND
MATRES IN
JOINT DEBATE

Concluded from Page III
1t is for them to decide who is right and who is
wrong in this controversy. All that ! now cx.
pect. and oil that I have claimed from the be.
ginning OF the campaign Is fair treatment at the
hands Of the leaders Of the party, as well as the
voters themselves. Tie question Is now up to
fhe people, and they will decide the issue.
! Battle for Majority Rule.
During the past four years the Republican party
h our state has fought great battle to sustain
the principle Of majority rule. H-was long,
hard contest, and, although simple proposition,
it wss aoutly contested. But It was finally de.
cided, .once and forever, that in Pennsylvania the
will Of the majority must prevail II required
several years Of the most strenuous kind Of po.
litical warfare to decide this simple vexed q,,es.
tion. ] had thought that, when the question
wal settled, and Senator Quay had been returned
to the United States senate, political troubles
would cease, and that those who had engaged
on the different sides Of this partisan warfare
would soon forget past differences, and join TO-.
gethef - Q united party to Hght the common
enemy. Ny hopes in this direction have been
somewhat blasted.
new question Is now thrust upon us. The
teal issue involved in this contest is whether
the people shalt be permitted to nominate a
candidate for the high and dignifed office Of gov.
crnor, or, whether the will OF the people shall
be uIpplanted by the dictation of the few. am
not vain enough to believe that my personality
counts Tor anything in this controversy. 1t
Hoes not. What becomes Of me in this compli.
sated situation ia a matter Of small importance
TO the people OF the state, but 1t Ia question
81 vast concern whether myself or any other
citizen shall be permitted to come out before
the people and seek their suffragcs for official
preferment. No friend Of mine has asked that
any favor or advantage be shown inc in the con-
test. All we have asked is that the choice of
Nandidate for governor shall be submitted 10 the
people and be decided by their votes.
I ain advised that some wealthy gentlemen.
br reasons unknown to me, have thought proper
90 demand my political head as the price of
their fealty to the party. The reason for such
demand does not appear on the surface and re-
mains veiled in mystery. 1t is not for me 10
conjecture why the demand was made and ac.
euissced in. Under the circumstances. however,
would be lacking in proper appreciation ct
The duties OF American citizenship il failed in
standing for q principle that is dear to every
Pennsylvana heart; that is to say, that each
man shall have fair chance in an open field be.
fore the people on any question in which the
public has an interest.
The Republican party will not suffer by reason
u this contest, so long as 1t is conducted in a
proper manner. Let every man who is a candi-
date for governor come out before the people,
submit his candidacy to their approval or dis
approval, win all the delegates he can 60 into
the state convention, and let the majority Of that
convention decide who the standard.fearer shall
be. This is my platform 1t is my intention to
wage an earnest battle before people for the
nomination. It is my opinion that majority Of
the delegates to the reyt state convention will
support my candidacy; but il it is decided 9th.
erwsc, and a majority Of the delegates in that
convention decides to favor some other gentleman
the nomiEee of our party. will bow to that
decree most chccrfully, and will do all in my
power to aid the successful candidate at the No.
,c,nbcr election. This is contest within party
lines. 1t is fight before the people for ma.
jo,ity rule II majority Of Tie people favor
my nomination, let them elect delegates and
send them TO the state convention in my interest,
and il such majority is elected, my friends Will
see 10 it that their votes are properly recorded
there. If majority OF the people favor the !
nomination Of some other gentleman. they will |
indicate their desires by sending a majority OF |
thc delegates to that convention for the other |
candidate. The voice OF the convention will be |
heard and respected throughout the common |
wealth. 1t is u good thing to encourage rin'li. |
date, to come out III tie open and make Mualy |
contests OF this character. When the people have |
Lad ticr way and the will of the majority has |
hccn properly asccrtained, the political skies al.
ways clear and men will settle do":! TO do the !
right and proper thing. But the potent voice Of |
the great mass OF the plain people, for which |!
the car OF Lincoln was ever open, and TO which |
The late lamcrted Mckinley gave heed, |
whether expressed directly by the assembled n,ul. !
titudc, or silently by the speaking ballot, should |
never be ignored. Factious chiefs may war and |
temporary confusion reign, hut wien that great |
voice is heard tie waves oi discord are stilled |
and a mighty calm ensues.
1t is not an index of wise leadership to under. |
take to thwart the peoples choice of men and |
In the administration OF political af. |
fairs there has been constant and growing ten.
dency to have from the people, directly as |
possible, expression OF their will in the elec.
ton Of nominees for cificim position and for
the adoption OF measures Of general interest. The
right Of the citizen to seek the suflagcs of his
fellows and the right Of the elector to free
and untrammeled choice are elementary prinvi-
pies upon which every great political orsaaiza.
tion must stand. In this contest 1t shall br my
pleasure to advocate the principles and policies
OF that party under whose benign guidance the
country, in both state and nation, has so mar.
'ellcusly progressed and prospercd.
This is not contest for supremacy. The 1,Ies.
tion Of leadership is not involved. Every politi
cal organization must have its leaders, and the