The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-19
HARMONY Is NECESSARY.

AS matters are beginning to shape up for
the next political campaign, it is time for
Republicans to begin to take counsel to-
gether regarding the situation and outlook
The committees, county, district and state,
have been appointed. and it will not be long
until the first steps will be taken towards
state convention and the election of dele
gates to the national convention. The hard
work of campaign is done after it opens,
but much depends on the preliminary work
and the spirit with which the party goes
into the fight.
The word fight" is used advisedly, for
this year there will be fight. The Journal
is confident the State will show itself, as it
has in every election for many years past,
safely Republican, but this result will not be
secured without fight. and perhaps hard
one. 1t is not going to be ''walk-over' for
the Republicans The Democrats will be
more united and better organized than they
have been for some years past, and will en-
ter the fight with spirit of confidence
which. however i'll founded. will be none
the less an incentive to effort and a factor
of no inconsiderable Importance in securing
victory. 1t is factor that must be reckoned
with
The Republicans must not expect to
peat this year the large majorities of 1896
and 1900 nor those of of 1898 and 19O2-the
latter reaching the splendid figures of 5.264.
The Republican majorities during the last
eight years have been: 1881 in 1896, IL, 500 in
1898. 26 47O in 1900 and 3d. 264 in 1902. The fact
that the majority-or pluraiity-increased in
every election and was the largest in an off
year, when only state officers were elected,
is encouraging. but must not be construed
as sign that it will be larger this year
than in 1902 or in previous years. 1t will
probably be much smaller, and may be re-
duced to the danger point unless the party
goes into the fight without {. handicap of
any kind.
With the number OF available candidates
for Governor and various state offices now
in the field there ought to be no trouble in
nominating a strong ticket. There is more
danger In the fact that for every candidate
nominated there will be several disappointed
and that this may detract from the vigor of
a campaign that can only succeed by per-
feet harmony and united effort. If harmony
exists the united effort will follow. There
fore, the keynote to Republican success, and
the sign in which alone the party be
victorious, is harmony-harmony between
the successful candidates and those who fail
Of nomination.; harmony between the state
district and county committees: harmony
among state and local leaders, harmony all
along the line and all around the board. To
insure this condition may sometimes involve
personal sacrifice or self-abnegation, but a
politician who will not do this much for his
party is not ut to be a party leader.
The kind of harmony spoken of-real gen.
uine harmony and hearty co-operation--is
needed in every county in the State. but in
none more than in this county. In addition
20 other interests involved here, there will be
fourteen members of the Legislature TO
elect, the loss of which might involve the
election of Democrat to succeed Senator
Beveridge. In the years above mentioned
the Republicans carried Marion county by
$500 in 1896. by 1850 in 1898. by $500 in 1900
majorities. but larger ones have been wiped
out in fight where party has been
united and the other divided or discordant.
If there is any danger of the opening of the
campaign finding lack OF harmony among
the Republicans of this city or county which
might lead to the loss of the county and
thereby possibly the election of a Demo-
cratic United States senator. now is the time
to avert the danger. If there is an incipient
lack of harmony it should be nipped in the
bud
The Republican party is bigger than any
man, any leader, any committeeman or any
candidate If success is far more important
than that Of any individual, and if personal
aspirations threaten to become cause of
party discord they should be sacrificed to
the general veal. With this spirit preva-
lent throughout the State Republican vic
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