New-York tribune., 1910-01-12
No GROUND FOR FACTTONALTSN

The delight of the opposition press at
the prospect of Republican factional
quarrels in Congress is unconcealed.
Naturally the Democratic party would
be glad TO share its reputation for abb
normal ability in nourishing and TO-
menting internal dissensions. The De-
mocracy is ready to divide on any pre-
text, and seldom stops TO consider
whether the cause of controversy is
deep seated or superficial. 1t can easily
convert a trivial difference into an ex-
cuse for deadly warfare. The Republi-
can party. on the contrary, has always
shown an extraordinary capacity for
cooperation. Its members sensibly be-
lieve that the execution of its general
policies should not be interfered with
by incidental differences of opinion.
passing irritation or clashes between
leaders and factions.
The party has lived down many feuds
and many secessions. 1t survived the at
tempt to defeat Lincoln's reelection. the
Liberal Republican flank attack in 1872,
the Mugwump movement of 1884 and
the silver Republican detection in 1896.
It did not succumb to the long and bit
ter struggle between the Grant and anti
Grant Republicans, the Stalwarts and
the Half Breeds. Why should anybody
think that an organization with such a
record for cohesiveneSs could be threat
ened now with dissolution because of a
clash among its representatives in the
lower branch of Congress- originating in
II -
parliamentary method to be followed in
naming committees?
1t seems to us that the Importance of
that difference of opinion, so far as it
concerns the programme and purposes
of the Republican party, has 3een great
ly exaggerated. No question of princi-
pie or party loyalty is involved. There
are many Republicans who think that
the Speakers powers under the present
rules are excessive and oppressive.
They favor limitation ON them which
would make the Speaker, as he was un-
til 1890, the parliamentary moderator Of
the House, but not its legislative master
Il is just as legitimate for a Republican
member to seek TO amend the rules as
it is for him to uphold the existing
system.
Yet some of the supporters Of the
present code have been misled into
thinking that opposition to the rules is
tantamount to opposition to the party
and its policies. The circulars recently
issued by officers of the Republican
Congressional Committee enormously as
slime that support of the existing par
liamentary system is test of party
regularity. 1t is not such a test, and
eren if the officers of the committee be-
lieyed that it was they should have con-
Sidered before issuing the circulars that
the Congressional committee is not a
regularly established party agency and
possesses no authority whatever TO set
UP standards of Republicanism. The
circulars were unwarranted and should
be disavowed.
The function of he party Congress
sional committee is to aid in securing the
election of 4 Republican majority in the
House of Representatives 1t should be
prepared TO aid every Republican candi-
date chosen by the voters o his district.
1t clearly misunderstands its function
when it seeks to interfere in nomina-
tions and to demonstrate to Republican
constituencies that their Representatives
are dislOyal because they favor elective
instead of appointive House committees.
Factionalism engendered over such an
issue is indefensible and should be re-
pressed. The country wants TO see the
policies of the Taft administra ton car
ried out by Congress. Anybody who
supports those policies should have the
assistance of the Republican Congress
sional Committee, whether he is CLASH
fed inside the House as an organization
man or an insurgent.