Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-06-20
WILL MARK
THE end OF
old METHOD
OF CHOOSING A CANDIDATE
Such is Prediction About the
Convention

Chicago, June 19.-Through the
smoke and dust of this thrilling re-
publican ARRAY may be distinguished
the outlines of one large probability,
which is this:
There will never another republi
can convention conducted like this
one.
1t is fascinating, of course, to look
on and wonder whether Billy Barnes,
Murray Crane and their strong-arm
allies will cop the prize, or whether il
will go to Billy Finn, Governor
Stubs, Senator Dixon and other able
bodied partisans of T. R. 1t is very
interesting, but the average man back
home is getting cranky over the no
ton that SO important an issue may
be settled by show of force or by
trick, or by braZen fraud.
The American voter is progressing,
A few years ago he looked compla-
Gently upon the tricks of the conven-
tons in which nominations might be
made without the slightest reference
to popular desire or preference. He
doesn't feel so meek and easy-going
today He has learned his own power
and he knows that when he and his
friends get busy. the politicians can
be made to look as cheap as two cents
worth of dirt.
This is reasonably sure: The voters
have taken it into their heads to
have their own way about the presi-
dental nomination hereafter, and four
years hence the preference primary
will be used in so many states that
the convention will have nothing to
do but ratify.
During the past year the writer has
visited nearly every state in the un-
ion and everywhere he has found the
oSItlnl6HC TIE SAME.
Why shouldn't the voters choose the
nominee? Who has a better right?I
Who make up the party but the
voters?
In March it was regarded as practi
cally certain that Taft would be NOM
mated. Following the New Jersey
primaries, even his friends felt that
in view of the popular verdict it would
be losing fight. Now the staunch
course of the national committee
makes it appear that Taft has an ad-
vantage.
The president, We are informed.
would accept the nomination if he
knew positively that the majority of
the party desired otherwise. Is this
attitude particularly remarkable, I'M
der the existing system?
Senator LaFollette is supposed to
he as ardent a champion of popul;
rule as we have Yet Senator 10 Fol-
lette is standing pat with his little
band of thirty-siX delegates, waiting
for what?
Only a comparatively few republ-
cans voted for Mr.. LaFollette, and
he is in no sense the popular choice
Would he refuse the nomination be-
cause it did not come as the gift
Of h. toy if Off he L.
party?
Hardly.
This is not intended as a reflection
on Senator La Toilette.
Senator Cummins, or any other dark
horse if offered the nomination, would
not stop long to worry over the vot-
ers' feeling or wishes.
We common Americans are getting
practical What is the sense of let
ting politicians do for us the thing
that we can do so much better, and so
much more honestly, for ourselves?
And why longer take chances of
letting the politicians sell us out or
settle the game to their own tastes, by
methods calculated to further their
private interests?
This isn't much of story of what IS
going on at Chicago, but it is true. It
is a story about what a few million
voters are thinking as they read of
the preparations for a knock-down
and drag-out struggle over the nomi-
nation this morninging before the con
Fening of the second days session of
the national convention.
kCHURCH PUTS THE BAN
ON T0RACCO GRnMINE