Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-09
Political Inertia indicative Of I'm
healthy Conditions.
BETTER CLASSES INDIFFERENT
Views Of Representative Louden-
Slayer, Secretary Of the Republic
can Congressional Committee.

REPRESENTATIVE Harry Loudenslager Of
New Jersey, secretary of the republican
congressional committee, who has more
than once shown his interest in Washing
ton. its government and citizenship, is
anxious to see the republicans of the Dis
trict of Columbia make the primaries to
be held here in the spring for the election
of delegates to the Chicago national con-
vention. June Is. Of greater importance
than ever before.
1T has always seemed extremely re-
grettable TO me-" said Mr.. Loudenslager
to a star reporter yesterday, that the
republicans Of the District do not make
the most Of such opportunities as they
have for participating in the political &C
tivities Of every 6our years. 1t is true
they can do no more than elect two dele
gates to the national convention OF their
party, but It seems unfortunate. as long
as there IL even this opportunity, that 1t
does not appeal to them a. Of sufficient
Importance to enlist their interest.
Chief Duty Of q Citizen.
II make this comment as a consequence
of reading the appeal to the republican
voters Of the District Of Columbia, issued
q week or 80 ago by Sidney Bieber. chair
man Of the board Of elections of the re.
publican primaries. IL the voters of the
District could be brought to realize the
Importance Of the fact stated by Mr..
Bieber. that exercise Of the political fran
chise is one Of the chief duties Of citizen
ship. and would demonstrate their per-
sonal interest in the primaries by regis
tering and voting for their respective can
didates, they would undoubtedly be In a
vastly better position to present to the
administration their claims for the recog-
milton Of tho principle Of local Offices for
local men,.
TN the absence Of the elective fran
chise here in the District the right to
vote for delegates to the republican ma
tiona1 convention should be looked upon.
in my opinion. In the light OF q privilege
and every voter should zealously guard it
az such.
Evil Of Political Inertia.
political inertia, whether with respect
to national, state or municipal elections.
or, for that matter. to q contest for the
selection OF convention delegates. is in
dicative Of an unhealthy condition and
must inevitably exercise a deterrent in
nuence upon the material and political
advancement OF the community in which
It Is found. Particularly - It unfortu-
nate when such inertia 10 found to be
confined to the better element OF the
population, to the people who could exer-
else q vast influence dor good. but who
arc too careless. too lazy. or too indf-
ferent 70 make the attempt.
''As Mr.. Bieber says in his appeal. the
importAnce Of the primaries. in strictly
local sense has BEEN greatly tnderesti-
mated. I can think Of nothing that
would do moro to help the District Of
Columbia in q material way. besides
eIevatinE e wonderfully In the opinion Of
those WHO have always viewed the politi-
cal situation here with something akin
to contempt, than e. convincing demon
strat3on at, the polls that the people of
Washington. are not lacking. to any de-
gree, In the pride Of citizenship and the
power Of political convictioh.
Organizations and individuals should
work together for the good Of the party
and the good OF the whole people 81 the
District. The two delegates selected at
the primaries to DO sent to the convention
should Be entirely representative Of the
choice Of the qualified republican voters,
and should DO men OF whom the whole
people OF the District irrespective OF
party: can well AFFORD to be proud.
Trsincefey trust to see the spring
primaries something moro than the usual
cut-and-dried affair.-or worse-a farce