The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1909-12-23
WHICH Is THE WISER COURSE?

publican In which he says: ?
II write to make a suggestion for
your consideration. C
First, want to say that / hearth q
ly approve OF your position that it (
would be greatly better for the Re-
publican party II the next State con-
vention should not be packed with
Federal Office holders. The struggle
which Federal Office holders have
made in the past to be delegates and
to dominate conventions has had the
effect of making the rank and file of
the party Indifferent, which indiffer-
ence has often lasted to the election.
Representative Republicans who ,
are not Federal Office holders should
be encouraged to go to the primaries
and to go as delegates to all conven
tions, and the Federal Office holders
ought themselves to help bring about
such a condition in the interest of
party growth.
But what 1 specially wanted to
say Is this: The next election in our
State is what is known as an off-year,
and no party, as a rule, polls as large |
vote on such years as on Presiden- |
tial years. Now, IL the rank and file |
of the party should respond to your
suggestion and send strong, progress
sive Republicans to take charge of
the next conventions and elect a
State organization whose efforts
would be solely directed to building
up the party, and the best men were
nominated and a vigorous campaign
was run, still would not the chances
be that the party vote would still be
smaller than 1t was last year? We
would have not only the handicap of
an off-year to contend against, but
IL the patronage machine was de-
throned they would, of course, do all
they could to discredit the new lead
ership of the party, and of course
they would be delighted if the vote
would fall off generally, and especial
ly If We should elect no Congress-
men, which might result no matter
how wise and vigorous a campaign
was run.
This being so, would it not be
we'll to let the old crowd run things
for the next campaign and take the
responsibility for the falling off of
the vote? This may not sound very
patriotic, but is not it often wise and
right to use diplomacy?
Il am not writing this for publica-
ton, but l want you to consider it,
and would be glad to have your views
either in an editorial or by letter."
The Caucasian does not agree to
the last suggestion made in the let
ter above, for several reasons. First,
admitting that the vote is naturally
lighter with all parties in an off-year
would not the vote be much lighter
under the leadership of the present
patronage machine than it would be
under the leadership of men who not
only want to win, but who have the
character and capacity to strengthen
and build up the party? If this is
true, this view of the situation alone
should settle the question as to what
is best.
In the second place, we think that
1t will be generally admitted that II
the management of the party if left
in its present hands, that an effort
will be made by the machine to try
to defeat some, if not all, Of our pres
ent Congressman for denomination,
and that they will not be properly
supported if they should be nominal
ed, and that therefore they would be
almost certain to face defeat. On
the other hand, If the party organiza-
ton is put into strong hands, then a
condition would be created that
would mean the reelection OF our
present Congressman, and possibly
the election of other Congressman, or
at least the only chance that we
would have to accomplish such a re-
suit would be by change in leader
ship.
In the third place, If the Republi-
can party is to carry the State at the
next Presidential election and elect a
Republican Governor, and give the
electoral vote to Republican Presi-
dent, it will not do to wait until then
to begin to organize. The work
must begin in this campaign to make
victory possible then. If the party is
left In charge of the present patron
age machine, not only will our pres
emit congressman be in danger, but
we will find the machine nominating
for Congress In the other districts
postmasters or some tool of the ma
chine who understands that he Is not
expected to try to win, but is simply
running for Federal job. This was
done by the machine in the last cam
paign, and it will be done again.
They do not want strong man to
run for Congress, because, first,
there Is some danger of his being
elected, and, next he would be sure to
strengthen the party even If he was
not elected, and the machine does
not want the party bigger, for it is
already now so hip that fho;r oon+-oI