New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-02
MR.. sHERMAN's SUCCESSOR.


In urging the immediate filing by
the national committee of the vacancy
on the Republican ticket caused by the
death Of Vice-President Sherman, and
in canvassing the preferences Of COM
mitteemen, The Tribune is not seeking
to promote, through a hasty decision,
the nomination Of any particular per-
son. and fully realizes the difficulty and
perhaps impossibility Of getting the
committee together for formal action
before Election Day.
Care in the selection Of a candidate
is necessary, ana both respect for the
memory Of Mr.. Sherman and the fact
that the members Of the national COM
mittee are far scattered led naturally
to the decision to postpone the actual
assembling Of that body until after
election. But the evident intention OF
some OF Mr.. Taft's opponents to make
unfair use Of the situation brought
about by the Vice-Presidents death
and to misrepresent the purposes of
the Republican party convinces US OF
the desirability Of giving the people at
least an informal understanding Of the
partys intention. Legally, Of course
nomination Is unnecessary as the
people vote for electors and not for
President and Vice President, and the
electors who are pledged to Mr., Taft
would doubtless vote for whoever
was subsequently chosen by the con-
sensus Of party opinion to ill the va
cancy. But so far as 1t is physically
possible in such a case the people
should choose electors with full
knowledge Of what their choice i'm
plies.
The Republican party believes in the
rule of the people and earnestly de-
sires q square vote on its every pro-
posal and every nomination. Probably
few votes are determined by the per
sonqlity of a yice-Presidentiol candi-
date. Yet citizens naturally like TO
know whom they are voting for, and
nav easily be prejudiCed against vot-
ing for an unknown who is to be Sc.
Iccted afterward for them. It is &
little like signing blank check. And,
besides, the vacancy leaves to oppo-
neuts everywhere the opportunity 70
circulate canards, whispering In one
state that some person there unpopu-
lar is going TO he chosen and in an.
other state, where perhaps that person
IS known and respected, that somebody
else viii be put forward. They know
perfectly well that the Republicans
have no purpose but to proceed with
deconcy and care to meet the situation
which death has forced upon them.
But that fact viii not prevent ma
ncims insinuaHoIs that the nominal
ton is being held back to serve some
sinister interest.
Therefore we believe that prompt &C
ton is highly desirable Even II
proxies cannot be secured from distant
states 50 as to hold a national com
mittee meeting before election, It is
possible to get informal expressions Of
preference, Just as The Tribune has al
ready done in many cases, and give the
voters an authoritative statement Of
the disposition Of the party. So far as
Il has been tested sentiment seems to
favor Governor Hadley OF Missouri,
and without doubt his nomination
would be highly acceptable to Repub-
leans, for he Is a strong, progressive,
loyal Republican. The expressions IN
his favor from national committeeman
which we have published show the
temper and disposition of that body
and warn the voters, pending the set
tlement of the question, against be-
lleving, as they will be asked to do by
the opposition, that the party leaders
are contemplating some unworthy
nomination. Even without a nomina-
ton the canvass has at least done that
good service. If the voters can be as
sured with certainty before Tuesday
whom the Republican electors will be
asked TO support the party prospects
Will be still further strengthened.
-
FOR BETTER OR WORSE.