New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-25
THE BLIGHT OF FAcTIoHALIsH.

The new Republican Senator from Missouri.
Major William Warner begins his term by
nouncing a simple, sensible and admirable
policy. Assuming the responsibilities thrust on
him by his election as Senator he pledges him
self to labor for the best interests both of the
State and Of the party. Above all, he proposes
TO stamp out the miserable spirit of factionalism
which made possible the recent wanton and in
rdefensible deadlock at Jefferson City In let
ter written on Tuesday to Thomas K Niedring-
haus, the chairman of the Republican State Com
mittee and the defeated caucus nominee for Sen
ator, Mr.. Warner says: 1T will be my pleasure
TO work with the organization in the State to
1.-THE end that the Missouri Democracy in 1906
land 1908 may be confronted by a united and
aggressive Republican party"
This, as we pointed out the other day is an
attitude too seldom taken by Republican leaders
In the Southern and border States To many of
these leaders personal advancement comes first.
with party interest bad second Accustomed
TO squabble among themselves for appointiye
federal Offices they carry the same methods of
competition into public contests against the
common enemy. Where unity and harmony of
action are required, they continue their factional
bashwhacking; and when the voters have given
them power in State legislature they too often
use that power only TO blast the credit of the
party as a responsible and serious political Or
sanizauon. Inc Republican party, after thirty
years OF exclusion, regained control of tho Nis
souri, Legislature last November IFS first d,,tr
TO the people was TO elect Republican Tnited
States Senator party caucus Was caIIad ond
after free and open contest nominee ,ras
chosen. Yet discipline was so lax and focfionoI
characterization so rife that one of the candi-
dates who entered the caucus organized q holt
on merely personal grounds and succaodod !,
holding the Joint assembly in deadlock ,,ntiI +ba
very last hour of the session. Tho o,ie,inor
caucus nominee withdrew and allowed nay
choice to be made IN caucus; but at the end tho
dictatorship went TO an outside compromise can.
didate. e'ii
In Kentucky the Republicans go+ oor+ro, 80
'he legislature in 1895, but were unable 10 oIact
senator at the regular 1896 session A snoojoI
session was called in 1897, and w cadfrov
hunter was made the Republican no,n,,ao g.
senator But fractional dissensions csused on.
clher deadlock and Mr.. Hunter was defoo+ad
me sehatorship going, after a struggle of man.
weeks, to William ]. Deboe. Ren,,bIioo,, -.
iatures We're chosen in MARYLAND IN 1eoz o.
1881 out factlonal dsagreements cause1 go
successive oeadlocks in the baIlotng for soma
'i' uloush III eacn case the caucus nominee
nnaiiy won. Ihe Delaware Legislature bos
Deeh ~ chronic state OF deadlock since 1894.
the Republican factions having combinoa -.
once-in 19o3-to give the State due renroso.,.a
ton In the United States Senate
These repeated exhibitions of selish DO,
the-manger leadership show discoura gina 1oa,-
OF enlightened party spirit In these sontbar-
States. tactionalism is the blight of Sontbar
RepublicanisIn, and ii is time that Southern lead.
ers realized the fact that they owe something n
the party whose name they use and whose inter
ests they have in keeping. We have lust seen
the good effects Of last November's victory in