Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1902-05-23
\ SIGNAL ur DISTRESS.

The meeting u the Republican State
Central Committee il. this city last
SATURDAY. barely brought ii bakers
dozen to the Capitol. II Was the weak.
est showing male 10y the Republican
party since Nevada Was II state.
People commented upon the difference
between the rousiuS meeting Of the
Fusion Central Committee at Reno
recently and the pitisble showing made
last Saturday.
But the most marked exhibition OF
weakness ca'ue when they changed the
date OF their convention 81 as & have il
come after he Fusion CONVENTION at
Reno. This change the committee was
luath to make. IA they realized that it
Haunted the white flag high in tie air,
but they were Obliged Ia yield To the
wishes OF the candidates who expect
nominations on the State ticket. These
gentlemen are getting quite anxious to
know who they will have to meot as
political opponents in the campaign.
They ar realizing more and more
every day that with complete fusion at
aRcno it will be Il waste OF time and
! rtrney to 60 into the campaign on the
Republican side OF the fight.
Simultaneous with this meeting came
the word from Washington that Senator
John u. Tones had announced that on
he fourth OF March next. la would close
his public career and retire from
political life after thirty years OF cun-
tinuous service in the L. S. senate.
Up to That time they had been huoyrd
up 10y the hope 'ha; tones would come
INT" the tight against \~"vlHuds. With
money and backing Ia make Il stiff
contest Tor the place. With ibis hope
gone II glimmering and candidates not
anxious to 90 on the ticket unless
fusion was broken Up in Reno, it is not
surprising that they decided ,o prstpDur
the Republican cor "ention until they
know whether the contemplated alliance
of Democratic aud Silver men was a fact
or a fiction. This is in striking contrast
To the attitude Of the party d few months
ago when they proclaimed that outside
tho Republican party in this S"ate the Il.
was no II worth mentioning.
Tie bubble OF biuti uud buster was
prickcd completely On Saturday last.
There WAS II time when the Democrats
Of Nevada ran a ticket al each State
election, merely t" keep the party
organization intact
: Next fall tile Republican party Of
Nevada viii be compelled 10 resort tn
this humiliating cIpedient and 20 into
the campaign with 40 hope Of doing any
more thar saving the disintrcgatcd
fragments II their or -auization.-Carson
Appeal.
While the action Of the Republican
State Committee may show weakness.
1t may turn II to he a shrrwd politicn!
move. The post p"ncment Of the Rcpub
lican State convention should be "A
powerful argumen; with the Fusion
conventions to nominate ii tickJa com-
posed Of the worry best material that can
be found III the ranks Of the lwo partirs.
II this IL not done, the Republicans will
put their strongest men against the
weak ones and max" n hot iigh, to elect
their candidates. The will cndumgcr
the success OF the whole ticket and mn\
result i'll the election uf IA number oil
Republicans to ill the most Important
State oiiicea. Instead of seeing simply
signs Of weakness in the action of the
Republican State Committee. the
lSnFpEEDENr considers it Il shrewd
politicnl move that can only tie check.
mnted 10y tie nomination OF "A Fusion
tickle: composed Of strong. clean men.