The Washington herald., 1910-09-29
The Saratoga Convention.

Whether representative OF the party or
only one faction of it. the rancorous,
strife-laden Republican convention at
Saratoga made an admirable choice Of a
candidate for governor of New York IN
Henry L. Stimson, II his reputation rest
ed wholly upon his successful prosecu-
ton OF the sugar fraud case. il would be
enough TO commend him-though the
public is prone these abnormal times TO
place on too high a pedestal. perhaps, the
official who performs his plain, honest
duty-but the nominee is otherwise known
for high character and ability, and I'M
doubtediy is worthy OF his party's sup
port.
The platform is promising. It clearly
recognizes conditions and the necessity.
not Of holding. since it is now obviously
lost in a measure, bur OF winning back
the confidence OF the voters The indorse-
ment the administration receives is ade-
quate and just, and the discredited tariff
work OF Congress Is presented in the
best possible light 1t is. as a whole a
platform OF the East Eastern. In spite
Of its tone Of progressiveness.
On the paramount State issue-that OF
direct nominations over which. ostensf-
bly,, Roosevelt went 10 war with the
bosses-the platform is conspicuously in
adequate. There is a general but no
specific promise OF what will be forth
coming in the way OF a popular primary
system, with Northumberland and
one may easily believe the current report
that Mr.. Roosevelt, as a matter OF fact,
has no well-dehned opinion on the aues-
ton or matured knowledge OF the princi>
pies involved therein.
After all the huIlabaloo, this is the sum
total OF the conventions promises:
ITO Gov, Hughes is due the credit Of
arousing the interest OF the people and
convincing them OF the need Of directly
electing their party officers and directly
nominating their party candidates We
promise legislation which viii enact
these principles into law"
Decidedly more reassuring-ln fact the
most significant utteranoe that came out
of the Saratoga convention-are these
words from Elihu Root. hitherto classed
with the conservatives, If not on the side
Of reaetionary conservatism:
Initiative and referendum. recall. d.
rect election OF Senators. direct nomi-
nations-all are symptoms OF evidence
that the people OF our country feel that
our forms Of political organization do
not adequately furnish the voters OF our
political parties means 10 give effect 10
their political Will. No call for freedom.
no call for free and full expression OF the
voters ever found the Republican party
unwilling 10 lead"
II the Republican party really intend 10
champion the cause Of popular govern
ment; If it mean TO heed the call that IS
coming from the masses. then will its
days Of trial and tribulatiop be few in
number and short indeed, for this is the
issue OF all issues with the American peo-
pie to-day. And Elihu Root. in seeing it.
sees beyond Hoboken and displays an
alert craftsmanship not yet shown by his
party conferees OF the East who are lead
ing the progressive fight.
How ineongruous, however, in connec-
ton with this demand. admitted from
such high quarter. for a better means of
giving effect TO the popular political will,
10 read in dispatches from Saratoga the
boastful assertion that Roosevelt having
beaten the bosses TO a "frazzle"-"yes.
'frazzle's' the woodland captured
twenty-five members Of the state COM
nittee. can now control the New York
delegation in 1912 and nominate himself
II he choosel
Is new system to be devised that will
take this power out Of his hands? Or is
that direct nominations plank meaning
less, after all?