The morning journal-courier., 1908-06-18
Thursdny, June IS. 1908.
THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION


 THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION The resentment which is expressed in the newspapers of the country, practically without exception, at the manner in which the republican na- tional convention has been handled suggests the dawn of a new method of placing federal candidates in nom ination. As in many other Instances where the president has provoked criticism no one questions the integri- ty of his motives. The particular cause of complaint has to do with his strenuous and arbitrary methods.
 As we have occasion to say many times, the preparation which Secre- tary Taft has had for the duties of the presidency Is of such an unusual, If not unprecedented character as to make his nomination desirable and his election inevitable, and yet 1t Is the more significant that, in spite of his admirable training and personal char acter, the spirit of resentment grows as the convention continues in session. President Roosevelt knows from per sonal knowledge that Mir. Taft is amply qualified for the high office to which he aspires He Is known to have said to friend, who remonstrat- Ned with him for his anxious interest in the preliminary campaign. that if the country only knew as we'll as he to what an extent 1t needed Taft in the executive chair 1t would under stand his interference. This may all be true without warranting him In the methods he has used. They would have hopelessy crippled my other man whose name has been mentioned In connection with the nomination. That 1t has not crippled Mr. Taft Is only an additional tribute to his sturdy manhood and an expression of the popular esteem in which he is held because of his official achieve ments
 No matter how popular the manag- ing boss is, there is nothing the aver age citizen resents as he resents hay ing his liberty taken from him by arts which are distinctly machine made. He has. of course, been fooled time and time again by the concealment of the mailed fist, and he will doubtless be fooled again but that does not i'm pair his indignation when he finds himself fooled. It has been just this experience which has converted thou sands of people to the direct primary nominating principle. One of the di- rect consequences of the present re- publican convention will be to give a fresh impetus to the movement in order to escape a possible situation which might spell revolution if the both interruptions and dishonest | will not surprise anybody if at ar early date bill is Introduced Int congress and enthusiastically support ed, which provides for the direc primary act under which the people of the various states in the Unior will visit the polls and there declare their choice for a presidential nomi. nee.
 It Is no answer to the machine made convention to claim that it work Is well done. This Is either { government by the people, or 1t is not 1t Is plainly not government by tn, people when the voice of the peopl, is slenced from any motive whatever good or bad. The Springfield Repub lican speaks moderately when 1t says "But the system by which our na tonal destnies are directed by poit ical conventions is after all, the mos colossal usurpation in the history 0 our constitutional government" Tn pity of the act of usurpation and en forcement at Chicago this year con eists in its brutal blindness to the fac that its beneficiary is head and shoul ders bigger than any man prominen in the republican party, and need only to be understood to be so reck oned That he will be so understood the moment he steps out of the cab inet, is the confident belief of hi friends of many years.
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 NHnNI, RE C,ONERN0nY