The morning journal-courier., 1908-03-20
THE DIGNITY OF STATION.

The question has finally been put in more or les concrete form whether it is a dignified thing for the two United States senators from Connecti- cut to seek additional political honors by claiming two conspicuous seats among the delegates to be sent to the Republican national convention? It has been rumored for some time that MT Brandegee and Mir Bulkeley de- sired to attend the convention, both of whom are credited with a state of mind as regards a presidential candi- date which would appear to run con trary to popular thought and judg- ment at home.
 We are not in position to say whether the question has been urged by the enthusiastic supporters of Sec retary Taft. who feel that they have a reason to distrust the two senators. or whether they would bave ignored the inquiry altogether if those gentlemen were known to favor Mir. Taft's nomi- nation. But there appears to be no reason for discussing the subject at all from that standpoint If 1t is proper for them to go as delegates to the national convention the proprlety Is not affected by their personal prefer ences as to candidates. It is either digniied thing for them 10 go 10 the convention or 1t is not. The most weighty argument with those who question the proprety of their pro posed act is that of tradition formed for self-respecting reasons by former Senators Platt and Hawley. If that tradition has captured the imagina- ton of the people of the State and lt appeals to the average view of what Is dignified or undigniaed MT, Brandegee and Mir. Bulkeley will certainly make a mistake by disturbing 1t. A great Ideal is to be said at all times for a tradition which increases and adds weight to the conduct of a people Nothing is to he said for tradition which has no sense at all back of it, such for example as the tradition In the Republican party which denies a capable governor the right to run again for that office.
 The New London Telegraph, which is printed at the home of Senator Brandegee, cannot understand why 1 that gentleman should not attend the convention if he wants to. and his | constituents favor the idea. The l Hartford Courant, which is printed al | the home of Senator Bulkeley, sees several reasons why the tradition should be respected. It recalls the | fact that MT. Platt and Mir. Hawley withdrew from that phase of practical politics the moment they became sen. ators of the United States, though previously they had cut a figure in national and State conventions. Says the Courant further: For at least 1 forty years the Connecticut delega. 1 ton has not had senator in its mum. Der. and while we have not at hand the data, we venture to assert thaf since the Republican party was or. ganized no Connecticut senator has been a member of its national delega ] ton from this State It is a seriou.
 matter to break up tradition lik,
 that. ard it would be still more seri ous to break it up in order to thwar
 the sentiment of the people of tn, State"
 It would appear on the whole tha the office of Senator of the United l States carried with it a sense of dig nity which should be guarded ieal
 ously The senate divides with tn, executive department the responsibili ty for the most serious acts of thu
 administration; it has potent voic, l in the official personnel of the coun
 try and it enjoys the right to aid il the making of treaties with othel countries. These are impressive pow