New-York tribune., 1912-08-29
STOLEN ELECTORS.

The progress made with the negotia-
tioDs through which II is expected that
the anti-Taft electors on the Repub-
lican ticket In Pennsylvania will retire
and be replaced by Taft supporters
though the versatile Finn says he may
change his mind again on the subject
is a proof of the gradual yielding OF Il
tangled political situation to the spirit
Of fairness and common sense The ap-
parput acknowledgment by the cdndl-
dates for elect0r put on the Peunsyl-
vania ticket as Roosevelt men that they
owe it to themselves and TO the puDilc
either To declare for Taft or to With
draw is the more welcome since IN that
state there has seemed 10 be no very
satisfactory legal ground on whlch lie
title Of those nominees couId be as
sailed. The issue in Pennsylvania has
been one not so much Of law rs OF ordl-
nary morals. For that reason. proba-
blv. the pressure of public opinion has
beep all the more united and emphatic
and the Roosevelt electors have been
brought the more readily 10 see that
they would be outraging public sent-
ment 10y trying to run as agents OF one
party while intending to betray their
trust for the benefit of the Presidential
candidate of another party.
No man OF honor would wish 10 he
nut in the position Of seeking office
under false pretencPs and misusing the
power intrusted to him. II there are to
be both Taft and Roosevelt electors in
the field In any state, each set ought to
stand under Its own colors, and now
that the idea of a dual ticket has been
abandoned honest men of all parties III
PENNSYLVANIA see that the only proper
place for a Roosevelt electOr is on
recognized Roosevelt ballot. The same
rule should hold in every other state,
and the understanding now being
worked out in Pennsylvania ought to
have a powerful effect in Kansas.
MARYLAND West Virginia. South Da-
kota. Nebraska and California, where
the moral turpitude of stealing another
party's trademark and good will is not
yet sufficiently realized.
Fortunately, in Kansas way has
been found Of appealing TO the courts
to prevent a misrepresentation Of pollu-
cal property, and the impending de
cision of the Supreme Court of the
United States may have the effect or
restoring the use of the Republican
emblem and the Republican column on
the official ballot TO the Republican
candidates for President and Nice-PreS-
ident. In Pennsylvania candidates for
elector we're regularly nominated be-
fore the national convention met, and
were not chosen with any deliberate
intention that they should refuse TO
support the Republican national ticket.
But in Kansas the theft Of the Repub-
lican emblem was committed after the
convention and with the express pur-
pose of depriving the national nominees
Of their plain rights.
We do not think that factiOnal per
versity can long justify in any state the
despicable trickery by which II is sought
TO make a Republican vote count for an
opposition Presidential nominee. The
law or public opinion will 6nd some
way to rebuke such fragrant dishon-
esty. and by the time the present cam
paign is over the country will wonder
that politicians anywhere were so short
sighted as to try TO commit fiat burg
larry and then justify 1t as honorable
| or eXpedient.