New-York tribune., 1906-08-28
THE POINTING WITH PRIDE" HABIT.

An interesting question of party etiquette mas
been raised in Ohio. The Republican State Con-
vention is about TO meet, and its members are
trying TO decide Just how far they are bound
by the custom of pointing with pride" at any
thing and everything In sight which may be
labelled Republican. Ohio conventions have
never been stingy in scattering compliments
and acknowledging services. and in awarding
platform bouquets the good old rule has gen
orally been followed Of satisfying pOliteness
first and truth afterward. Usually this could
be done without much friction or offence To
logic, as all the leaders Endorsed, Presidents
Senators, Representatives and Governors, were
broadly grouped workers for the same cause
and exponents of the same principles. This
year, as it happens, the two Republican Sen
atOrs from Ohio have failed to work in har-
mony with President Roosevelt and the ma
jOrIty Of the state delegation in the House OF
Representatives and the convention therefore
faces the problem Of tempering its all-round
vote of credit with q certain measure of dis
elimination and censure
The situation will call for political strategy
of a high order. There can be no doubt as
Representative Burton said recently, that the
Republican -Oters of Ohio and the people Of
Ohio without regard to party stand behind the
President. The Presidents Endorsement must
therefore be absolute and Unequivocal. But ac-
cording to what scale of demerit are the Sen
ators and certain members OF the delegation
in the House to be penalized? Mr.. Foraker was
the most persistent opponent in the Senate of
the administrators Railroad Rate bin and was
the only Republican to go on record as voting
against it. He also opposed the Hamilton Joint
Statehood bill, strongly favored by the President
Senator Dick was one Of the most earnest cham
pions OF this latter measure, and nOn-cOmmit-
tai or not actively hostile on rate regulation.
Yet he helped by his vote in committee TO
strangle the Philippine Tariff bill and TO defeat
the administrations laudable effort to repair
gross injustice to the Filipinos. Representative
Keifer also took the 'insurgent' side on this
measure and, though a Representative is sup
posed to reflect the sentiment of his particular
constituency, and not Of the state at large, a
which apportions blame for the dere-
Lotions OF the two Senators can hardly avoid
challenging the wisdom Of Representatives who
fought the administration on the same issue.
Ohio's pride pointing will have to be done this
wear with a more or less irresolute finger. Yet
it is a material gain for intelligent politics when
a convention drops the old perfunctOry Omni-
bus Endorsement habit and begins TO weigh
seriously the arguments for and against GER
tain course or policy. Ohio should know and
the country should know whether Mr. Foraker
anything beyond his individual pre-
possessions in fighting so resolutely the whole
scheme and theory of railroad rate regulation
It would be helpful TO discover whether or not
Mr. Dics reflected the best judgment of the
party in Ohio when he voted to deny relief to
the suffering F1lipinos. If he really represented
Ohio opinion he is, of course, not censurable,
though disposed to agree with Mr.. Bur-
ton that a direct vote on this issue would show
Mr.. Dick In a small minority Just as a direct
vote in Connecticut would reverse the position
of Senators Bulkeley and Brandegee. The two
Ohio Senators must in their own interest desire
a full and free discussion in the state cOnven-
ton OF the policies on which they differed
from the administration and must welcome any
friendly instruction for their future guidance.
Sane criticism is preferable to unmeaning eu-
logy, and it is less important for a convention to
point with pride" than 1t is to counsel with
freedom and intelligence