New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-16
doesn't look now as If it would be ehoeu
by Wilson sacrificing himself for CLARK
or CLARK sacrificing himself for Wilson.
THE CONTESTS.


The national committee completed its
orduous labors last night. turning out
Temporary roll for the Republican Ma
tional Convention which undoubtedly
represents the fairest judgment obtain
able under difficult circumstances.
There is no reason to think that the con-
vention will not itself approve the roll
as II now stands. as few conventions
have ever questioned the decisions niaue
by the national committee under part!
rules and precedents with when 1t Is
familiar. The committee is entitled 10
great credit for having faced coura-
geously a situation complicated by re-
sort TO the despicable practice of fabrl-
eating titles merely for psychological
effect.
Most sober-minded Republicans have
heon scandalized at the length to which
the abuse of contests has been carried
this wear at Chicago The titles of nearly
one-fourth of the membership Of the con-
vention have been in dispute, and the ma
tional committee has been obliged to ex-
ercise disagreeable and dangerous
power i'm deciding which claimants are
entitled on primd fdcic evidence to places
on the temporary roll. II is too great
a burden TO put on the committee, which.
even with the best intentions. Is likely TO
give some decisions which may be made
the basis of angry remonstrance ana
charges of "brigandage."
The conditions under which the tenn
porary roll of Republican National
Convention is prepared put premium
on excessive factionalism and incite in
furious party feuds. They threaten
party unity and success and encourage
the idea that national conventions do
not represent the will of the voters. but
can be controlled through manipulation
in the interest of one candidate or an
other The Tribune believes that the
present national committee has exercised
its best Judgment in passing on the In
flated list Of contests submitted TO 1t. 1t
NAV have made mistakes, and in the face
of technical irregularities on both sides
in many districts it is impossible to say
what would have been exact Justice III
every instance Liability to error is In
herent In the present scheme OF party
government. and it is only the part OF
wisdom TO recognize that fact and to
lessen the opportunity for plumbers and
criticism by relieving the committee to
some extent of its unwelcOme RESPONSE
bilities.
tt would be advantageous, In the first
place, for the national convention to
codify and clarity the rules governing
the selection of national delegates. On
one important point there is confusion
in practice. The national call invites
the Republican electors to unite in the
selection of delegates. But in some
states-Arizona and Washington, for in
stance-the state committees allowed ex-
listing county committees to designate
delegates to the state and district con-
ventions. thus depriving the electors OF
the opportunity to accept the invitation
issued to them by the national commit
tee. The procedure in calling state and
district conventions should be made so
plain that on a mere statement Of the
facts any fair-minded person could de-
termine whether the action taken was
regular or irregular. If a hard-and-fast
rule is laid down fabricated contests will
cease to pay for the time and trouble
involved in preparing them.
IL might he a good plan also to re-
quire contestants and contestees from
any state or district 10 submit their
case TO some sort of local determination
before appealing as claimants to the ma
tional committee. In the states where
direct elections occur the state authorl-
ties now certify the lists Of national
delegates. If practicable. the courts
might be used in the non-primary states.
lust as the New York courts were APP
peaIed 10 recently to pass on the regu-
larity Of the election Of the Murphy dele
CATION to Baltimore 1t is Of vital i'm
portance to eradicate the contest evil at
once The party could not much longer
survive the lax system which has al
ready kindled the >bitterest fractional
animosities and given rise to attacks on
the integrity of the method by which
candidates for President and Vice-Prcsi.
dent are nominated.