New-York tribune., 1908-03-15
CONTESTS AT CHICAGO.

We are clad 10 see that Chairman New of
the Republican National Committee resentS
and denounces the assumption that i'll making,
UP the temporary roll of delegates to the Chi
cagO convention the committee will act as the
willing tool of any candidate or candidates for
the Presidency. The Tribune has itself pro
tested against the tendency. strong in certain
quarters 10 consider the settlement of con
tests for seats in the Republican National Con
vention as a question of might. not OF right
10 be decided according to the political or
factional interests of majority of the commit
Zee. The Democratic party though profesSedly
organized 10 promote popular sovereignty ana
ma iority rule. has been notorious for tramplinG
on individual rights and ignoring equity in con
tests for control Of party conventions and party
machinery. But Republicans have generally
been scrupulous in examining and validating
titles TO seats in party gatherings and Re
publican voters would not tolerate the high
handed methods by which minority is so
often converted into majority i'll assemblages
pretending to practise principles of equality
and Justice inherited from Thomas jefferson.
AS matter OF fact the Republican party
cannot afford 10 sanction the least departure
from fairness in passing on dlsputed credeh-
tiais at Il national convention y bare major
ity is sufficient TO nominate a candidate Tor
President and that majority should clearly
represent the aScertained viii Of the party 1t
is highly unfortunate that an excessive repre-
sentation in conventions is given under present
party rules TO many d Congress district in
which there is no satisfactory Republican or
ganiZation In states like South Carolina, Flor
ida Georgia Alabama Mississippi. Louisiana
and Texas the party is in n demOraliGed condI-
ton IL is dormant for three years and Il halt and
comes 10 life only when delegates to natohti
convention are TO be chosen. There are rev
or no effective tests which be applied to
determine party membership regularity. and
il doubtless often happens that many persons
participate in the naming Of delegates who arc
not Republicans and not even electors 1he
greatest care must be taken in deciding con
tests from these states: for it would be a gross
outrage Oh the Republicans of other parts OF
the Union if fictitious delegations from the
lower South were allowed to obtain seats 10
which they were not entitled and by their votes
decide a contest for the Presidential nomlna-
ton.
We feel sure that the national committee. a
Mr. New SAYS. fully realizes the Importance OF
the trust committed to it and Will discharge
the duty of examining contested credentials
honestly and impartially, with regard only 10
the best interests of the party and the coun-
try In most contests there is some rule of
law which can he applied to determine lesiti-
macy. and if facts are in dispute the committee
can act in each al unpreJudiced jury
1t is more important to secure just repreSen-
tation of party sentiment in national conven-
tions than if is 10 nominate or defeat any par
ticular candidate for the Presidency. The po-
Iitical preferences of contestants should there
fore have nothing to do with the Judgment
passed on their credentials Each case should
be Judged on its merits with the help OF such
general rules as can be laid down. Chairman
tl,o only
method of procedure, since only by adhering
TO il can the Republican party maintain its
character as an organization imbued with the
spirit of equal rights and fair play and deter
mined TO express the wishes of a lawful major
ity of its members.