The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-05-29
THE RIGHTS OF A PARTY CAN
DIDATE.

The Independent, editorially and
through an alleged correspondent,
criticises a recent editorial printed
in these columns under the heading
AN Unwise Proposition" 1t was
the purpose of that editorial to show
the patent improperly of carrying
into effect a resolution adopted by
the recent Republican State Conven-
ton which provides that all Republl-
can candidates for the legislature
shall be interrogated as to their ac-
ceptance or rejection of the several
blanks in the platform adopted by
that convention; their written an
swers to be published in the news
papers of their several districts. We
pointed out that this proposition was
extremely unfair to the legislative
candidates. They have received
their party nomination and are en-
titled to the support of their party
organization. This organization
now proposes, in derogation of its
party duty, to place these candidates
on public record on questions con-
cerning which there is a serious and
irreconcilable difference of opinion
in the party. 1t should be plain to
the dullest mind and conscience that
such a course is bound to jeopardize
if not destroy the candidates
chances of success at the polls,
whether he expresses his approval or
disapproval of the mooted planks in
the platform. We questioned and
still question the political as we'll as
the moral right of a party organiza-
tion to strive in this manner to de-
feat its own party candidates. For
this position the Independent takes
US to task, and argues, in effect, that
a party candidate for the legislature
ought to be defeated unless he pub
licly subscribes to every plank in a
party platform adopted after he re-
ceived his nomination, well knowing
that certain of those planks are not
only Objectionable but offensive to a
large percentage of the voters of his
party. The Citizen cannot go along
on such a proposition as this. We
believe in the propriety of interrogat-
ing a candidate for a party nomina-
ton, and if his answers are not sat
isfactory to a majority of the party
voters, they should refuse to give
him the nomination. But when
they have given it to him the candi-
date should not be heckled and toss
ed from pillar to post by his own
party, and especially by his own par
ty organization. We repeat that to
do this is not only unwise and un-
fair, but is little short of treason.
AS a Republican newspaper The Citi-
zen will give its hearty support to
every candidate on the Republican
state and county ticket. 1t will not
inquire whether he subscribes to this
or that doctrine or theory, or wheth-
er he approves or disapproves any
/ plank in any platform. 1t will as
sumo that, since he is the choice OF
his party for the Office to which he
aspires, the party voters can trust
to his intelligence and integrity, to
properly represent them in the event
of his election. After he is elected
it is the privilege of any citizen, and
especially of the voters who support
ed him, to urge upon him his sup
port of or opposition to any proposl-
tion which is likely to come before
him in his representative capacity
We trust we have made this sufii-
ciently plain. We are not now dis
cussing questions of political econ
omy but questions of party fealty
and party anarchy. And we insist
that party candidate, who is the
choice of the majority of the voters
of his party, should not have a mill
stone hung about his neck by his
party organization, for the benefit OF
the opposing candidates.