The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-06-20

ton now In progress in Chicago marks
IA" passing Of Republican national con.
Nen,ions of a similar character There
never VIII be another convention IKE
this II is quite possible there never
VIII Dc another Republican national
convention OF any kind; that this is the
ldst but whether OF not, there Will
never he another like this one o. re-
hemblinG III ans regard the conven-
lions of previous years. running away
back TO 1860.
Gives Dnte TO It's Dcnth.
Moreovcr-and this is even more In
po9tant-this CONVENTION gives a date
TO the death Of the Republican party
as u Is at Present constituted and as
u mas been constituted for many years.
The name Republican, may live, but
the Republican party that name mas
typed since 1885 IS dead The funeral
services are being conducted in Chicago
at the present
Take these two propositions in or
der beginning with the passing of the
present style OF convention There
never VIII be another Republican ma
iional convention Xix. this one or like
the ones OF four or eight years ago or
those OF sixteen or twenty years ago.
Tor the reason that tho political system
that made conventions easily possible
IN the past and barely possible now has
changed. The old politics is gone. The
ola politicians have been shifted out oil
power. \ new generation is almost In
command. a new idea prevails a now
system is in process of development
The Republican party is no longer
cohesive, lighting, definite organization.
instead, Il Is really two partIcs-a
stand-pa; or conservative party and
radical or progressive party There
isn't the slightest doubt II th.re had
been primaries In all the States instead
of in a few OF them. the old crowd
would have pitifully small represen-
,ation here. no matter Whether Mr.
Roosevelt was candidate CT not.
So far as that eminent candidate is
concerned. he grabbed progressive
ism; progressiveism didn't grab him.
The Republican party has outgrown
.ts old system ana its lld leaders. and
tho people demand a new method OF
selecting their candidates.
They demand tho right to have a
hand in the selection instead Of be-
ing told of those selections after they
are made.
Ola Methods Outgronp
If a census could be made Il would
be found that the radical element in
the Republican party is not so much
greater than the conservative element
as has been claimed. :here are many
conservative Republicans. but even
the conservatives are fully alive to the
deficiencies OF the present system. and
many of them are as anxious for re-
adjustment as the proSressives. The
fact of 1t all is that the Republicans,
conservatives and progrcssives, have
advanced beyond the method OF
twenty years ago, and neither wing
is wholly in sympathy with the pres
cnt methods.
1t is auite probable that before 1t
comes time to nominate another can
didate for the presidency enough NOR.
States will have adopted the prefer
gential primary system to make what
ever convention shall be held merely
a ratification meeting. about the same
sort of a gathering as meeting of
the electoral college, but even IL that
does not come for eight years shy,
there never will be another Republic
can National Committee that can
make UP a temporary -oll and where
a prearranged credentials committee
can have the last word on the con-