The weekly Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1911-1922, 1911-11-16

"The organization of the republi-
can party has always been, in this
state. very much an organization OF
the whole party, but it must be more
completely so this time than ever
before. I suggest that the election
of delegates to the district conven-
tions which elect the district chair
men should take place in each town
ship and never In the county as a
whole. Here is where the rank and
file can get in their influence. They
must have their say when they elect
these delegates or they don't have
much say: hence the necessity of
bringing these elections as close to
the voter as possible
cat the time the people elect these
delegates in the townships they
should pass written instructions foi
their delegates to elect as district
chairmen only such men as will de-
clare themselves openly to make
absolutely no difference in the treat
meii. of the two crowds in all mat
tiers with which they have to deal;
that they will he free to act for
what thev think to be the best in
terests of all the party without be-
ing under obligations to or handi-
capped by the followers of either
crowd in any way. IF it is possible
to find suitable men who have not
taken part actively with either
crowd, such men should be chosen.
Servants Of No Men.
"The conventions. which elect the
district chairmen should likewise
instruct the men they elect that
when the state chairman is chosen
that important officer of the organi-
zation should consider himself free
from obligation to any set of party
workers. hut he must consider him
self the servant and the leader of
the whole republican party. The
state chairman, and likewise the
district chairman, should be the SER
want of no man or set of men. He
should be a man in his own right.
a general in the game of politics.
natural leader of men. man In
whom the whole party has confd-
enee. both as to his ability as a
leader and as to his friendship for
aid faith in the people: leader
who knows enough to consult with q
large circle of republicans of the
best judgment and who are closest
to the people.
"He should not be chosen because
he will favyor this or that candidate
fNr the nominaticn to state Office or
for congress or for any postofficc.
f'n should he chairman to help the
rank and file of the republicans
make the kind of a platform tbev
want and nominate the kind of a
ticket they want for the next cam
paign; to help elect the candidates
the party chooses and after they are
elected TO helm them carry on the
Government in the wav the people
want it carried on and to helm the
legislature enact those laws which
will be of the most benefit to the
whole people,
"Just as the district and state
chairman are elected, pledged free
from any obligations, so should the
county chairman he chosen. This
thing of electing a county chairman
because he will be fo~ Jim Smith
for the postoffice at Crossroads VII
lage has done an immeasurable
amount of harm to the party in In
diana. While elements of strength
are to be found in it. the weakness.
especially in times like this. are a
hundred fold more.
GA county chairman should be
elected to carry on the campaign
and not to recommend postoffice ap-
pointments. The great rank and file
of the party cares little who runs
the postofiices so long as they are
well conducted. but they do care
about the laws that are enacted and
the laws that are enforced They
want progress in our state and ma
tional governments; they want econ
omy and efficiency in all depart
ments of state.
What Should Be Done.
Il am aware that this plan will
seem to many quite idealistic and
theoretical; that it is what we
should dc. but what we probably
will not dc. However. I believe it
is the way out for the next cam
paign in Indiana and that with the
proper influence from the state and
district leaders it can be carried to
a successful conclusions Visitations
by leading republicans should be
made TO every precinct in the state
to arouse all the republican voters
and urge them to attend the organi-
zation meetings especially and all
the other caucusses Of the party