The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1912-06-12
Victor Mudock Talks OF
Fear in the Convention

were the product of tho county dele
gates, who were elected BY the people
r. the National committeeman was ex-
pceted To be independent of public in
Thence, free, in perpetual quarantine
against any poular fever whatsoever.
and to all Infection from the pest-
lcncc Of popular progressive nclina.
ton immune.
So the National committeeman grew
into type Usually he enjoy ed long
Itcnure-aome OF the members OF fhs
Republican National commi'tae has
served for decades There is, no sal
Try attached to tho position, and conse
daently wealthy men became III eq,leaL
aspirants for the places aud as' rule
roor men did not Tho National com
nittceman had, and still has. entree
si the White House, which compre-
ihcnds an occasional invitations to
meal usually luncheon withs tha pros
ident and his family. and the right to
offer patronage, such as thes appoint.
ment of federal judges. In addition
to this. the National committeeman
has part in the National convention,
participating in the choice Of the city
whore II will be held, the time Of
holding IL, and the rights TO decide
contests for place IN the temporary
roll of the convention, which right. III
o close vote, might prove the pripI-
lcge OF determining the party nominee
for president. This right is based ON
no. law or grant Of power from any
source II is purely traditional. And
i Is complicated by the curious prac-
tee through which the National com
mittee selected at one National con
yention is permitted 10 determine con
tests in the National convention four
Years later. From the viewpoint OF
the advocates OF presidential pref
erencc primary this plan is anomalous
and II is only question OF time
when 1t will be relegated
Thinks Committeeman Arc Menaccd
Now it Is this practice that in
crcases the interest in the National
at this moment and brings
the old time National committeeman
into bold relief For the National
committeeman is menaced And MIR.
Roosevelt is the menace.
II is true that Mr. Roosevelt mum.
hers many friends among the mem.
er type of committeeman, MIR. Roose-
yclt embodies all that is politically
dreadful. Disdanful of outworn pre-
tedent Indifferent, yes, almost joy
)usly Indifferent to the sancfities OF
The small traditions that are dear to
their hearts, Mr.. Roosevelt. ito the
Of the friends OF the Ma
-lonal committeeman, is jubilantly ad.
gancing upon the citadel or the Ma
ional committee with great glad
aboriginal desire and design to bowl
he party beadle and his gorgeous
lvery over the dust
The anti-Rooscvelt National corn
nltteemen do not Under rate Mr..
Roosevelt. Not thep. They know him.
They do not like him. They never
lid. During his stay IN the White
louise they dissembied, Men like
senator Penrose and Senator Crane.
10Th members OF the National com
nittee. suffered and were silent. They
ouldn't help It.
When he passed out OF the White
iouse into the Jungle they sighed
mighty sigh OF long-deferred relief
md when he came back again and
matched Illinois from a machine half
century old. and PENNSYLVANIA from
mother equally rs venerable. captur-
d Ohio. gobbled Maryland. took Cal.
'ornia and Oregon and Nebraska.
nd gathered New Jersey to himself
T a popular vote. the National com
'tteeman let it be confessed, even
nth some humiliation, the National
identified within him
elf strange emotion, alien hither-
,, now Enthusiastically present-alarm.
And as Mr.. Roosevelt approaches
IS fort5tications, the National commit
'cman is beginning to suspect, not
lthout secret chagrih, that there has
lrvived in him strangely though the
ears not only capacity for alarm, but
lat which 1t feeds upon-fear
And should he fear-shouId our Ma
onal political beadle fnd himself
eakly human at last-the best fhaf
'uld be said in way of consolation il
lat nation we are still young and
versions TO democracy, even among
atIonal committeeman of the old
,hool. are inevitable occasionally