, 1908-03-07
Terms OF Subscription.
THE REPUBLICAN DELEGATION

lished n brief editorial advocating the
Fieug1ng of the state delegation to the
man of the conventions choice. TGis
was done in the utmost good faith.
Wyoming has followed this wise policy
Tor many years and has ]prohted by it,
The state Is the last to be called at
q national convention and If Il does
not express a preference prior to the
roll call It must lose the prestige gain,
cd by making n choice, for the candi-
ming is reached and there is no credit
to be gained by standing up and shout
ing for a man after he has heea nomi-
mated by somebody else. II Is entirely
too late then. Situated as Wyoming is.
there is only one thing to be accom-.
plished by refusing to name n candi-
date. and that is the discontinue Of a
very large majority OF the voters Of
Wyoming. The Republican believes
that a great majority of the ~republh
cans OF the state are for William II.
Taft. This fact has see shown by sew
eral excellent straw votes taken by diff.
fcrcnt people. There has been little
other sentiment and even what little
there has been has not shown itself ur-
til lately. 1t seemed to start in Wash
ington after the stOckmen had assem-
bled there. First came the interview
urftn, M 1aI 4ha, Cn,r,t ,t,r NNEo 1lFAr.
of the National Wool Growers assocl
alton and the correspondent of the
Denver Republican announced in his
Wyoming correspondence hat there
would be an effort made to prevent the
convention from naming a candidate
Now comes the Rawlins Republican,
presumed to he censored politically by
Mr.. l.. Il. Armstrong, with an article
criticising severely the article in this
paper as follows:
Now the Republican has all the re.
spect in the world for Mr.. Chaplin's
views-he is nearly always right, Nor
do We desire to work VI an argument
over this question, But we want to
say that the people OF Wyoming will
lose absolutely nothing by going to
Chicago in July unpledged, while an
instructed delegation never did AMI
never can win anything.
Why 20 10 the trouble to sem a del
Cgation at all If We are going to tel
it what to do? Better wire our -Nor2
in and save expenses.
The idea hat we must get into the
hand wagon before the team Is hat
EeSsed in order to have tie respect
of the driver does not appeal to us as
being In keeping with American ideals,
Such a policy would preclude local
progress.
As a matter of fact, however, it is
not a question of getting into the band
wagon so much al it is Of endorsing
certain policies, Objectionable to some
people. at least, Of his state and other
states in the Rocky Mountain west.
so, you see, it comes right back to
government control of the public do
main. An endorsement of Taft would
be an endorsement of the administra
ton in every particular, indsmuch as
Tart is Roosevelt's protege. so TO speak
This does not mean that Tart would
carry out the Roosevelt program to the
letter. But it does mean that if he
should and the people of Wyoming had
endorsed him the state as a whole
could have no kick coming.
Therefore the Republican sim be.
lieves that as long ds we have no in
tention of giving up the fight or throw
ing in with the opposition the only
wise thing to DO is to go to Chicago
free-handed. It might be necessary,
Mr.. Chaplin, to do a little scrapping.
There Is nothing in the argument
that the hands of our delegates should
he left free, that it is useless to send
delegates if they are to be instructed
This is a representative government
and the people have the right to name
the man of their choice for president
OF the United States. To send dele
gates to q convention without voicing
their will is for the people TO deprive
themselves of their right of selection.
Wyoming republicans stood twice for
William Mckinley and once for Tneo,
dore Roosevelt. They have no reason
at this time to change this excellent
precedent. II a majority Of Wyoming
republicans are for Taft or Hughes or
Knox or Cannon, let it be known. The
bushwhacking policy is not in accord
with reason or good politics The only
possible excuse for the position RS
plainly set forth by the wyoming Tri.
bune:
Notwithstanding the fact that at
least seyenty-hvy per cent of tine re
Publicans Of Wyoming favor Hon. vii
ham H.. Taft tor president, it is
as clear as the MONDAY sun that n
conspiracy has already been formed
TO defeat the will of the people and
eive the administration a slap in the
lace.
''What are the evidences Of such "a
conspiracy?
1T is lot necessary TO go farther
hack than the wool growers nve
ton at Laramie, when il took a gal
liant fight on the part of Governor
Brooks to head off a resolution engi-
neered by Secretary Walker to con
denim President Roosevelt.
"A few weeks later Hon. L. E. Arm.
strong of Carbon county, Colonel E. J.
Bell of Albany county and George S.
Walker of Laramie county ven to
Washington as a committee TO oppose