New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-06-07
SETTLING THE CONTESTS.

TIL, Renubliran National Committee is show
ing trustworthy tendency to discourage the
manufacture of frivolous Southern contests
This is step toward cleaner and better in
ternal management in the Republican party
which has tolerated too long the scandal OF
irresponsible representation in national con
rentions from the Gulf States. Those states
have a power in Republican councils grossly
disproportionate to the Republican vote cast
in them. and even more disproportionate to the
work they do for the advancement Of Repub
lican principles Like most beneficiaries OF
unearned privileges they presume on their
good fortune and instead of modesty improv-
ing their advantages. recklessly abuse them
The national committee and the national con-
ventfon should sternly rebuke such arrogance
and perversity, and put a stop as soon as
possible to the wretched factionalsm which
vents all its energy in petty wars over patron
age. and carries every four years TO natlonai
convention disputes which should he settled
al home by a practical application of the ma
jorty rule principle. 1t must have been appar-
ent to anybody who fmpartially examined such
claims as those offered by the Aldrich-David-
son faction in Alabama that they were based
on purely selfish and Fictitious pretences. We
do not contend that the regular organlZa-
ton is altogether free from censure or that It's
mana cement may not have been to some e1-
tent oppressive and arbitrary. But the rem
edv for such abuses can be found within the
party. Alabama has a primary law, and that
law can be invoked TO show which faction is
in the ma iority Indeed. the faction consentnfs
10 submit its claims TO the test Of a primary
vote would at once obtain a decided advantage
over the other faction, managed on the old
and irresponsible delegate system. But in
Alabama the dissenting element simply set up
a private organization of their own for the pur-
pose of electing delegates TO the national con-
yention BY doing they disqualified them
selves from consideration. The national COM
mfttee rightly repudiated this faction because
it failed 10 try TO get It's rights in a legitimate
and orderly manner
Similar rulings will doubtless be MADE
against all other irregulars and schismatlcs.
There are doubtless cases under the convention
system in which disputes over credentials do
lead TO legitimate contests. There some
such in Ohio. Kentucky. Missouri. Oklahoma
and Tennessee, where the Republican party is
effectively organized. But in other states,
like South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Mlssls-
sppi. Louisiana and Texas. where the party is
in state Of fuI and disorder, the national
convention will probably never rid itself OF
trouble and scandal in the choice Of delegates
until it compels definite and binding action
under the protection of state law on the part
or qua 0ed hepuDllCdH elecioIS- hdns Coh-
ventions in the Gulf section are no more than
mass meetings. and mass meetings can be got
ten up ar small expense by political leaders
dissatisfied with the action of the nominal
regular organization.
In The Trbune's table of delegates-eect to
Chicago pains were taken to discriminate in
favor Of those delegates subject TO contest who
seemed on the face of the situation TO have
the better prind fdcie claim. We do not
think that our judgment will differ ma terially
from the Judgment OF the committee and the
convention. As we have already said, more
than half of the contests filed with the
1ionaI committee have no intrinsic merit, and
many of them in no way affect Presidential
preferences. But they constitute an annoy
ance and q menace. and il would be n most
desirable thing if some action should be taken
at Chicago TO compel the states which have
continually exploited their factonalism 10 set
tie all disputes at home hereafter by primary,
or by other application of the theory of
government by the majority.