The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-03-07
OUR FIRST AND GREATEST
Duty.

We have received a number OF let
tiers protesting against this action oil
the State Committee. All OF the writ
ers of these letters give more than
one reason why they oppose sweep
ing endorsement of all OF the acts
OF the Taft administration. Every
one of them, in addition to other
reasons, say that the President hui
inflated and insulted the Republi-
cans OF the State when he appointed
a Democrat for judge, and that his
action said to US and to the world
that there was not a Republican law
yer in North Carolina fit to be Fed
eral judge. They all ask how can the
committee represent the party OIL
maintain its self-respect by endors-
ing such action.
One of the most thoughtful let.
tiers says:
"If the committee had recited
what acts of the administration
should be endorsed and what
acts should not be endorsed. and
had then appealed to the people
to send delegates to support the
administration on the whole
record their action would have
been more consistent and digni-
fed and less CALLING to the mass
es of the people who are not
seeking favors from the White
House but who have been work
ing for success of Republican
principles. The committee made
mistake to pass any resolu-
tons. We elected this State
Committee to serve the party as
a committee, and not to tell US
how to vote. The people at the
last State Convention repudiated
that kind of action which has
been the habit under the old
referee system"
We do not publish these letters,
for it could not do any good now
The above letter is mild statement
of the sentiment of all of them.
We agree that it would have been
better if the committee had passed
no resolutions at all. While the reso
luton as it was drawn and present
ed to the committee did appear to
attempt to dictate to the people as
to how they should vote, yet, fortu-
nately, it did not pass in that shape
The modified form in which it did
pass might be looked upon as a sam
pie recitation of some of the acts of
the administration which are ap-
proved by all Republicans. We are
satisfied that the committee did not
mean to endorse all that the admin
istration has done. No single mem
Der of the committee could have in
tentionaly voted for such a resolu-
ton.
Now, as to the appointment of a
Democrat for judge, we want to say
that we have never felt that the
President was entirely to blame. The
referee ring that was then in full
swing did not want any Republican
appointed judge that did not have
the machine brand upon him. Chair
man Adams, of course, wanted the
place for himself National Com
mitteeman Duncan was for Adams
for judge, regardless of his notorious
want of qualifications, because he
wanted himself to be both State
Chairman and National Committee
man SO as to make himself the whole
referee machine. While trying to
carry out this represensible scheme
they "fly-blowed" all of the clean
and able Republican lawyers of the
East to such an extent as to disgust
the President.
We do not say that this is sufiici-
emit excuse for the President doing
what he did, but we do say that If
the people had smashed the old Re
publican referee machine before
that time, and If Mr.. Morehead had
then been State Chairman. that a
Republican Judge would have been
appointed. Therefore. az we see it.
Mr.. Duncan and his refree machine
are more responsible for that out
rageous insult to the Republicans OF
the State than is the President.
Two years ago the patriotic Re
puhiicans OF the State, whose chief
desire Is for the triumph OF Republi-
can nrin1iples and who want the of-