The Dickinson press., 1912-06-29
WHERE ARE WE AT?

WHERE ARE WE AT?
To attempt to analyze the situation
in the republican party now so as to fix
the blame is futile. 1t would probably
be nearly correct to say that both sides
were at fault.
The entering wedge between the two
factions which finally eliminated in
the rupture Of the party and the found
ing of a new one, centered around the
methods by which the parties conducted
their respective campaigns. A brief
review of those methods will illustrate.
In the states of California, illinois,
Massachusetts. Maryland, Nebraska,
North Dakota Ohio. Oregon, Pennsyl-
vania. South Dakota and Wisconsin.
President Taft received 1885, ii votes,
while /. 513, 637 votes were cast aeaints
him. This gives him less about a third
of the total votes cast. On the roll call
for the nomination in the convention
the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Flor
ida, Georgia. Louisiana. Mississippi.
North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas
and Virginia cast 176 of the E votes re-
ceived by which the candidate for
president was named. but not one of
these states will have an elector to vote
for the republican nominee. Hence it
is apparent that in the states to which
the party must look for support in the
election there were only 1856 votes and
in states which must elect the republic
can candidate if one is elected. and
where the people had a voice in the
choice, the vote was two to one against
the president. 1t is true the conditions
were the same so far as the south is
concerned as have prevailed for forty
years. But in giving equitable consid-
Grafton to the question we look to the
substantial justice of the case rather
than to precedent or rule. This condi-
ton was the foundation for the bitter.
ness that developed in the opposition
in its fight.
Many of the contests before tn.
antional committee were without foun
dation. But a number of them had sub
stantial merit. The final vote shove,
that it was necessary for Taft to hav
practically all OF them to be nomina
ted, as the final vote was only sixtee|
more than enough to nominate. Unfor
tunately the cases were heard and de
cided by a prejudiced court on bot
sides. The members of both the nation
al and credentials committee wer
angry when they were considering tn
contests. One side thought they wer
getting nothing more than what belong
ed to them and the other thou ght the
were being robbed of what belonge
o them. In the face of this tempe
the rupture came.
Some of the decisions in the contest
had neither facts nor justice to sub
stantiate them. But had they been j
the interest of Il candidate who ha
proven that he was the popular idol-th
peoples choice-the methods woul
have been excused and justified as tn
improper means TO accomplish a goo
purpose. Taft was not such a candi
date, as we have already pointed out
Hence the methods aroused the hostilit
of the people and this wal reflected i
the delegates supporting Roosevelt.
On the other hand, Roosevelt was un
fortunate in some of his leaders, and i
himself. He is a fighter who can tax
defeat in a square fight with equanim
ity. The methods of the committe
aroused his passions and in a way h
forgot himself. He said things of til
other side which involved men of hi&
integrity. He called things by name
that u the fighting blood. Som
of his managers. notably Heney, We
less discreet. Thus the passions eradu
ally overrode the judgment on bot
sides until the breach came.
What Lincoln said of a nation divid
ed against itself is equally true of
party. When the passions have subsid
ed. it will be time to take a cal.
survey Of the situation and seek fl
the solution that shall best perpetual
the principles Of the republican part
and at the same time preserve til
civic honesty without which a natio
must fail.-Grand Forks Times.