The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1902-10-10
HEyDERCoN,s WITHDRAWAL


Speaker HendeTson's withdrawal
from the congressional race furnishes
the most sensational feature OF the
campaign He is the present speaker
Of the house OF representatives and
was = candidate for reelection His
district having a overwhelming re
publican majority. his election seemed
assured, notwithstanding the activity
OF the democrats and the desertion Of
some epublicans-suppO-ed 70 be
comparatively few II must have re-
Quired some powerful cause TO have
forced a Withdrawal under such cir
cumstances. What was the cause2 In
his letter he gives but one. namely,
that he finds many republicans in his
district in favor OF putting trust-made
articles on the free list as a remedy
for private monopolies. and as he is
opposed to that remedy he declared
that he preferred 70 retire 70 private
life rather than strike such a blow
at the system Of protection II IS only
fair 70 assume that the republican de
lection IN his district is so serious as
to make him believe his election i'm
possible. for on no other theory would
he be justified, even according 20 his
own logic. in refusing TO make the
fight If he believes. as he evidently
does. that the nations prosperity de-
pends upon maintaining a high tariff
wall. then il was his duty TO fight for
its preservation He could not in such
or the effect OF defeat upon his own
political fortunes A surrender with
out a fight is rank cowardice except
in the case Of overwhelming odds,
and even then il is better TO die fight
ing if by so doing, the cause can be
strengthened elsewhere
Mr.. Henderson is the leader OF his
party in the house Of representatives
and he must have known that mis-
abandonment Of the fight for the rea-
sons given would weaken the very
cause to which he declared himself
devoted. II must be remembered, too,
that the action was taken without con-
sultinE those who share with him the
responsibilities Of leadership-taken
on the very day when the president
and FIVE republican leaders in the SEN
ate-Hanna, Aldrich, SpOOner, Allison,
and LOdge-met at Oyster Bay and
decided to ignore the tariff question IN
the present campaign No wonder
they are explaining it on various and
contradictory grounds Some say that
Mr.. Henderson, finding that he could
not cOnsCientiOusly represent his con-
stituents on that question, withdrew
as a matter Of honor. but how could
Mr.. Henderson ascertain before cleo
ton the views Of his cOnstituents2
How could he measure IN advance the
effect Of his own speeches in inhuenc-
ing the views of his constituents II
he, the speaker Of the house, with his
great prestige. ability and personal
popularity could not hold one OF the
strongest republican districts in the
limited States. what chance is there
for less conspicuous, less able and less
popular repub- cans to hold close con
gressiOnal districts2 This explana-
ton. while creditable TO the speaker
candOr and honesty. IS a confession OF
/ judgment against the republican party
on this issue. and republicans cannot
afford TO make It
Mr.. Henderson has put his party
I in a position where It must condemn
I him in order to save the party II
must charge him with lacking leader
ship. with being deficient in courage
and unwilling TO sacrifice himself LOT
/ the good Of the party, o. they must
I charge that he acted in 4 fit Of passion
and did not take time TO consider the
/ widespread effect Of his deed They
| must accuse him Of a crime against
/ his party. or Of a blunder that IS as
Z QL5aSLEOuS q crime III H. ----------N-
/ upon the party
knowing Of General Henderson's de-
votion TO his party and of the bravery
7 he has displayed on many occasions,
/ The COmmOner viii assume that ne
! recognfzed the irreconcilable conflict
( between his own views and the Iowa
/ platform. and rather than surrender
I his own convictions OF embaTrass his
! marty in the state he preferred 10 sac
rifice his own ambition without stop
/ ping TO consider how his conduct
i would demOralize the interpretation
\ lists in the republican party and give
! increased prominence to an issue when
/ the national leaders Of his party are
\ trying 10 avoid
/ This question is one which is likely
to make a division in his party and its
/ settlement cannot long be postponed
The republican party must reform the
tariff at the risk Of losing the entire
I system Of protection or ii must reso-
/ luteIy oppose all tariff reform at the
risk Of losing q great many repub-
lican voters
The other leaders Of his party were
attempting TO delay consideration OF
the question in the hope that the ag1-
tation would subside without the neces-
sitv Of any action whatever, but Gen
eraI HendersOn's hasty move has TO
cused public attention On the subject
and compelled republicans TO take
sides
The fight is now On and no one can
tell how extensive the disaGection may
be or how many republicans may be
/ driven out OF the party b. refusal
OF the manufacturers AID their adyO-
Gates to make any concessions 70 the
/ consumers.
When Governor Cummings forced
| through the state convention OF Iowa
q tariT reform platform, The Common
er pointed out thar the platform
might hold republicans IN line this
! year. but that il would IN the end edu-
cate them out Of the republican party
II the nation refused to lower the
schedules. The work Of education IS IN
An interesting suggestion concerning
the best way to strike is given 70 tE ?
working men by the Philadelphia Rec