The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1904-09-24
PARTY LOYALTY.

and necessity of loyalty to party i
politics, from county officers on u
through the various offices to thos
higher ones that Immediately contrc
the economic policy Of the country
There is nothing to be gained by re
fusing to support party nominees
There are naturally personal differ
ences as to the best men to be nom
mated for Office. Individual and per
sonal preferences are felt by Thu
voters but when a ticket is nominated
in convention as the choice of thu
party, it deserves and should have thu
support of the voters Of that polltica
faith. There is nothing gained by cut
ting tickets. The individual who j!
this year tempted to cut some candi
date of his party should remember
that another occasion may see him OF
some personal friend 1 candidate, anX
sous for The undivided support of hi:
party, just as those who are candi
lates this year should have the sup
port of their party following. The
Optic says:
What does party loyalty mean in
politics? Is it important that the
party ticket be supported? Can a
man be loyal to his party and vote
Tor independent candidates for Office?
What are political parties for? A
house divided against itself cannot
stand. a party is an organization 81
individuals who adhere to certain i'm
portant principles and desire to &C
complish certain purposes. Only by
thorough organization can anything
worth while be accomplished. The
Will Of the majority is recognized and
the final appeal must be made to the
individual voter. The individual vot-
'ars determine the results in the pre-
cincts. A majority of the precincts
constitute the dominant clellent in
the county convention. A majority Of
the voters of the counties makes the
majority in the legislative, judicial and
state conventions. y majority of the
votes Of certain states rule the ma
'tional convention, which is the high
est expression Of the will of the
body of the party. Thus each voting
precinct aids in the determination of
the policy OF the party. Each voter
has q voice in the determination of
the result in the precinct. In the
precinct the vote Of the president of
the United tateS counts for no more
than the vote of the humblest citizen.
The man who votes for an independ-
.ent candidate fails to recognize the
Importance OF organized effort and
strikes a blow at the only method of
securing legislation and the admins
tration OF the laws as desired by the
majority of his fellow citizens. In
anonarchies the will OF a few individu-
ais is enforced. In republics the will
of the majority OF the voters is carried
out The bette. the organization the
more good caa be accomplished. The
republican part. CT the United States
has succeeded in accomplishing more
than any other political organization
because the elements have been more
closely united. The primary basis OF
the republican party is the belief in
the union, in concerted action. The
party may not always be right, but it
generally is. There is a time when it
is proper for individual members of
the party to object to certain policies
advocated by the party. That time is
before the %caucuses, in the county,
legislative, state and national conve
lions. Then is when the will of the
majority of the party is formulated,
when the principles of the party are
laid down, when the individuals to
carry out those principles are chosen.
These individuals may not always be
our personal choice. They are
chosen by the majority Of the con-
vention and are bound by the will
Of the convention, which will is the
expression of the majority of the del
egates chosen by the majority of the
voters belonging to the party. After
the convention there should be but
one primary consideration. to sup
port the representatives of the party
chosen to do the will of the party.
After the convention it is the duty
Of every member of the party to work
for the success of the party ticket
from top to bottom, to face the enemy
in united effort. The success of indi-
,viduals means little unless the party
wins. Political parties are simply
organizations to carry out the will of
the majority of voters who believe in
certain we'll defined principles. Just
as combinations of capital give the
great trusts immense power, combina-
lions of voters determine who shall
look after the duties of the republic.
TWO POLICIES coNTRAsTED.