The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-03-07

| trail question about which men are
| nominations. Public mention of it,
| by responsible public men is not
| heard, but much quiet work is being
/ done and the lines are already taking
| shape.
| This is, of course, the formative
why the public discussion of this
matter is in order now. while there
| still remains a chance for the general
| body of the voters in each party to
| influence the result. The longer we
wait, the nearer the conventions, and
people may prevail against political
| moneuvering and the dictation of the
bosses. Many National convention
does no more than ratify a nominal
ton safely secured, by methods we
all know, months before the dele
gates assemble. The time to strike
is when the iron is hot and can still
be shaped.
] am Republican, and as such I
am interested in the success of the
Republican party as an instrument
for securing the public welfare. In
| common with all other Republicans.
| am deeply interested (and rightly SOY
but I differ from some others in be-
ing willing to speak out. The public
interest is not apt to suffer from
plain speaking. Thus far, however,
conform cheerfully to the prevailing
custom, and express no opinion as to
who the Republican nominee will be,
or who he ought to be.
But If we keep silent over 1t we
should also keep up lively thinking.
For this at least is sure: The Repub-
lican party cannot afford to risk it's
chance of victory in 1912 merely up
- -,
Time was when that was reasonably
safe. Today it is dependence dis
tinctly less reliable than in the past.
Also we need a larger issue.
In 1912 the nominee himself will be
more than half the platform. 1t is
obvious therefore, that the Republic
can candidate should be selected with
peculiar care. and that he must have
certain indispensable qualifications.
First, he must have wisdom, cour-
age, and genuine devotion to the well
fare of the people.
Second, he must be a progressive,
and stand for popular government.
Third, he must be a leader, whom
the voters will follow with enthusi-
asm.
Fourth, he must offer the party he
is to lead fair chance to win.
These requirements are not unreal
sonable. No man not reactionary
they contain. And no man whatever
can doubt that unless the next Re
publican National Convention nomi-
mates a man who meets this test, the
party is sure to suffer. For in these
days the independent voters are in
creasing by leaps and bounds.
Party ties sit more lightly on the
voter today than for many years. and
that Is we'll. In the last election
many Republican was beaten by
the refusal of his fellow Republicans
to support him rather than by the OPP
position of the Democrats. The poll
teal unrest Of today is merely a sign
of political independence and political
independence holds the promise of
free institutions.
There are. I believe, many men
who feel as do. 1 am Republican.
but I am an American first. I am a
Republican, but I reserve the right
to vote for what I believe. I would
rather be right than be regular"
The man who always votes a
straight ticket has destroyed his own
political effectiveness. He has sim
ply counted himself out. The vote of
the always-regular Republican simply.
ular Democrat. In effect the two are
paired. and neither has an influence
on the final result.
The hide-bound regular must Swal-
low what is set before him. Down it
must go, though it choke him. Dis
likes and n1isgivings alike give way at
the crack Of the party whip. There
fore he has nothing to say as to
platforms or candidates. The men the
political leaders never fear to lose
are the men these same leaders need
make no effort to retain. When
party platforms are drawn up, no
changes need be made to meet the
rock-ribbed regulars views, for he
will vote the ticket anyhow. When
candidates are nominated. no conces-
sions to his preference are required,
for he will vote the ticket anyhow.
When elections are held. the rubber
stamp voter on the one side is offset
by the rubber stamp voter on the
other side, and the issue is decided
by the men who vote their convictions
where they find them. The men who
count are the men with independence
enough to weigh platforms, judge
candidates and act on what they
find.
Regularity in party is often COM
pared and confused with loyalty in an
army. They are not the same. In
war the privates in an army are I'M
der the command of their officers-in
free government. on the contrary.
the officers are under the command
of the rank and file. We prfvates in
the army of progress are beginning
to understand this great fact, which
some of the old leaders yet find it
hard to realize. /
The man who boasts of his unshak-
able regularity is boasting of his I'M
shakable inefficiency. He is proud that
he does not count The men who will
not follow the leaders when they go
wrong are the men who keep the
leaders right The men who will not
FOLLOW the party when it goes wrong
are the men who keep the party right.
Whatever is right and vital in the
Republican party today is progress
sive. Whatever is not progressive is
dying or dead. When any part of