New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-08-03
THIRD PARTY THIEVING
Some Observations on Writ of
Error in Kansas Case.
The New York Evening Post

Yesterdays decision by Justices Pltney
and Van Devanter, in the case Of the
Kansas electors, is probably the wisest
/ that could have been made under the cir
cumstances. There is at least a doubt
/ whether a federal question is involved,
/ and as the Kansas primary is set for
next week, the judges were naturally re-
/ luctant to make an order which might
/ prevent the printing OF the Official ballots
/ In time But they were clearly OF the
, opinion that the question is one which
should be argued before the Supreme
! Court and so they granted a writ OF
error returnable later The result may
, therefore be that, even II the koose-
welt electors nasqueraGing as Repuoli-
| cans are chosen in the Kansas primary
| their names may be stricken off the OFF,
| that the decision does, so far, IL to hold
! that the legality of the Kansas plan Is
clouded. The fun bench may decide that
! II Is fatty illegal. Whether IL does so or
| not. the common sense of the country
has already decided that 1t is immoral
/ confessedly tricky. and on par with
sneak thieving.
For consider the case by and large
| An entirely new political party has been
| formed. 1t is to be formally launched
/ in Chicago next week as the National
| Progressive party. Under that name it.
has been incorporated in this state. Yes
| terday Medil Mccormick telcgraphed
from Chicago, I'm the name OF the eX'
ecutive committee OF the National Pro
gressivc party" to the illinois Republl-
can members Of Congress, demanding an
! answer TO the question whether they IN
| tended to support Taft or Roosevelt
Passing over the impudence of this. we
| remark merely that II establishes the
fact Of new and separate party being
not only In contemplation but actually
| I'm existence. But what Is this third
party of all the talents and all the Writ
ues attempting TO do I'm Kansas ana
elsewhere? 1t IL seeking to cheat the
| voters. 1t Is endeavoring to take 1d-
vantage of a tangled political situation
1 and a technical Interpretation OF the
| election laws in order to commit a fraud
As one of the judges Of the Kansas Su-
preme Court plainly remarked. IL is
! guilty of false pretences: At least eight
| electors are, as ostcnshlc Republicans
| asking the votes Of Republicans. at the
same time that they will not vote IN
the Electoral College for the Republican
candidate for The Presidency. Now, II
| may be that the Supreme Court at
! Washington will decide that all this IS
| political" and cannot be interfered
with judiCially. But whatever the law
| may be. the morals Of this Roosevelt
! scheme are such as TO put the vilest po-
| litical thimblerigger that ever lived 10
the blush.
| These gentlemen who set out with the
| cry, Thou shalt not steal" are propos-
! Ing 10 steal everything that they posi-
! bly, can. II they can appropriate a name
| belonging to another, they mean to do II.
! If there is a political organization not
their own upon which they can lay vlo-
lent hands. they will do that without
hesitation or sCruple. They declare that
! the Republican party is dead. but It's
! clothes they inteLd 10 steal. Tho pecu'-
| lar cffrontery Of this surpasses the most
shameless instances OF political turpl-
! tude. We have heard OF 'dishinG'
| party by catching II in bathing and
stealing its clothes, but in the present
! case the plan Is 10 knock iown party
! nd tri . Of 9ta aFQf 1sNI II
! bleeding and half-dead by the roadside:
the robbers then going off To pose as the
only honest men in the land. Progr"S-
/ sive. the wise this call. but the ordinary
| intelligence Of the wayfarng man who
/ possesses even the rudments Of a con
science will Indignantly describe II as
the act Of a highwayman.
| If there IS any dirty work attempted
! I'm behalf Of the third party, YOU may
count upon THE outlook TO defend IT,
! Accordingly, we have its solemn article
on THE Duty OF Presidential Electors.
I The gist OF II Is that they have nothing
I TO do with the nation or national con
yention or national party, but solely
with the states who elect them. This IS
! truly dying fall for the champions OF
/ the New Nationalism-the conclusion.
namely. that the election OF President
! is not a national matter. but purely one
OF states rights. We will not dwell on
| this, nor on the fine logical miX-up IN
cOntendng that the elector should rep
resent the party IN ms Sidt'- ! - pnN
what party? The one to which he really
| belongs. or the one whose livery ne
Is trying 10 steal 10 serve the devil IN :
! But we do not press this. Putting an
these bubbles one side what mas u.
outlook" to say on the plain question or
good faith and honor? Not word. Here
we have "A system which IS the grown OF
| hundred years. During that time IL mas
come to he understood that for Presl-
Dental elector to sail under false Colors,
or to think OF falling back on his naked
| legal right 10 vote as he pleases In the
| Electoral College, Is To violate one on
! those tacit but binding agreements which
an honorable man would no more thlhk
! of breaking than he would OF rObblnk
! the poor box In a church. But all these
moral considerations. these principles OF
fair dealing, which hold together decent
society, THE outlook completely ig-
nores II unctuously joins hands win
Boss Finn In "reviving the Electoral
/ College, But the question which many
will soon be asking is: who VIII revive
| "The Outlook'?''
! These Progressives cannot have N
| both ways. They cannot assassinate the
/ Republican party and then pretend that
they are the Republican party. NoDody
objects 10 their fOckng by themselves
/ Let them found their new party. LEI
| them nominate as many candidates Tor
office as they like. In state ana nation
alike, and let them Try 10 get az many
votes as possible. But In the name OF
decency let them be manly and above
board about It. Doubtless the extent OF
their present hopes is To smash the Re,
| publican party to pieces this year, ana
| then annex the fragments TO their own
! new party In 1916. But they are bound
TO wait for the decease OF their parents
before Selling the estate. Their attitude
today is that OF desiring both To- commit
murder and then to persOnate the muir
dered man. Somebody I'm The outlook
office ought 10 be moved to reading the
! Bible and meditating upon the words OF
/ - IA Il 90 a
! the third party I'm Israel Hast thou
! killed and also taken possession