The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1904-03-07
THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.
(The Louisville Post. }

u
with the rules adopted by the Repub-
lican committee for holding Repub.
lican primary. The Herald objects
to certain expressions of approval
which appeared in the Evening Post,
seems displeased with the intimation
that there is anything fairer in the
new rult $ than in the old and resents
the open door policy embodied in these
rules.
Let us take mp first the objection rs
to the fairness under the old regime.
The Sapp primary Of 1901 illustrates
the condition Of affairs against which
the Evening Post has protested. Ger
tainiy there was no attempt at fairness
at that primary. The decision of all
disputed questions and the counting
IF the ballots were left in the hands
Of one faction, and, in fact, in the
hands OF one man. The consequence
of such concentration of authority
was manifested before the primary
was held, while the story of the pri-
mary itself is still an obstacle to Re
publican success.
Even last year, when Mr.. Belknsp
was put forward ss the candidate of
the gentlemen controlling the organi-
zation, when Mr.. Belknsp himself
earne silly desired TO secure fair cleo
ton, the rules were so arranged as to
remove every element Of chance 4"
Under this domination the Republi-
can party has gradually lost its posi-
tion in the community, lost its oharac-
ter and its prestige, lost public sym
patty and public confidence, wasted
eight years in which opportunities
have come to it, such as rarely come
to an opposition party in any great
state.
Under the new rules there is to be
between the two contending factions
an equal division of officers. What
these officers do must be done in the
broad light of day. When they
come to count the votes that count is
subject to the inspection of both sides.
instead Of being done behind closed
doors. as has been the case heretofore.
But, says the Herald, under these
rules it may be possible for the Dem-
ocrats TO 60 in and take charge of the
Republican primaries. That never
happened before, and it is not apt to
happen at all. The rules are those
that formerly controlled a Republi.
can primary; it mattered not what
men had done in the past, the test was
what they intended to do in the fu-
ture. The men who intended to sup.
port the Republican nominee were in.
vited to come in and assist in the Sc
lection Of that nominee.
Moreover, the form of this invita-
tion is exactly the form adopted by the
National Republican Committee when
il Issues its call for a national conven
ion to select q candidate for President.
This puts the party in position OF
keeping an "open door" to all men
who are prepared to support the Re-
ppblican nominees and the principles
and policies Of the Republican party.
1t is return, therefore, to the best
traditions Of that organization. 1t is
an abandonment OF the policy OF os-
tracism and of antsgonism TO all indie.
pendent voters who mi0ht be tempo
rarily drawn to the support OF the Re-
publican party. 1t is the abandon
ment of a policy that has reduced the
Republican strengths policy that has
nullified any attempt to increase the
Republican vote. Bourbonism is aban-
doned and the Republican party
moves forward on lines that are GER
tain to command for it, IL not votes
sufficient to win a victory, votes sufii-
cient to give it position and digniy
and in time power.
If the Republican party is to be
made in Kentucky the dominant par
ty, it must be because of the policies
it advocates. the candidate il names
and the spirit that controls its organ
ization. II it is to win in Kentucky
it must win by.drawing to it men who
heretofore have been Democrats. IL
can draw these men only by Offering
them something better than the Dem.
ocratic offer. When it offers these
better things persistentIy and when it
seeks victory on no other terms, il
will gradually be advanced to COM