The Washington times., 1912-06-03
THE GRIP OF THE DEAD HAND.

-Four years ago Mr. Taft was nominated for
President and Taft national committee was placed
IN trusteeship Of the affairs of the national party
BY more emphatic and indubtable showing
than was ever made to any other President the party
has now repudiated Taft.
Every State that has had an expression, by vote,
OF the mass of Republicans, has turned down Taft,
turned down the Taft national committeeman, and
given Its confidence to the representatives Of new
order of things.
Yet the national committee selected four years
ago insists today that it is entitled to continue its
hold party affairs. 1t is as utter an anachronism
as If the ministers of George w should return to
the government benches at Westminster today
An illustration will enforce the point Four
years ago Ohio presented Mr.. Taft for President
and named Arthur !. Vorys as its national committee
man. very proper arrangement.
This year Ohio has rejected Taft and sent an
anti-Taft delegation to the national convention As
to part of that delegation-the six chosen at large
there may be contest in the national committee
1t is the contention Of the Taft people that Mr. Vorys
who concededly has been repudiated as committee
man, and who has not chance on earth of succeed
ing himself, is entitled to sit in the committee on
Ohio's contest!
1t is an utterly impossible situation. Mr.. Vorys
cannot possibly occupy fair attitude. He is par
fallen from him. Ohio is entitled to be represented
in the national committee that will sit on its prospec-
tive contest, by man in sympathy with the domnat-
ing element.
For Mr.. Vorys to pretend to represent Ohio,
is perfectly impossible 1t is not pretended by
his supporters that he will represent the State. He
simply intends to stick to his position and serve in
its hours of dissolution, regime that purposes to
keep the destnies of the Republican party in the
palsied grip of dead hand.
In the case of Nebraska the case is even more
striking. Victor Rosewater was made national COM
mitteeman four years ago. He was and is Taft
man. On April IL of this year the Republican prm-
ary, conducted under the LAW OF THE STATE, a
regular, legalized, formal election, chose R. B.
Howell to be national committeeman, and sixteen
ant-Taft men delegates to the national convention
Mr. Howell has received from the governor and sec
retary of state of Nebraska his commission as ma.
tional committeeman. No other man holds such a
commission, pretends to hold it. Mr. Howell de.
mands that he be accepted and given his seat on the
committee, that he may represent the PRESENT
attitude, intention, and opinions of his State. He
protests that it is unfair that man of another era
or day that is dead the eighteenth century, to
pretend to represent the State now. He is right
True enough there is precedent to support the
contention that favors the rule of the dead hand
The world and its institutions are full of such prec
edents; but the world is breaking away from such
things, and political party that asks support as
progressive institution today cannot adhere to st
reactionary program, This is time in which prec
edents count for little; unless they are good anc
justifiable they are being set aside. This one oil
ruling the Republican party through ministry tina
stands for an epoch that is as dead as Caesar i.
among the traditions that must 60.