Abilene weekly reflector., 1912-09-12
THE KANSAS ELECToRs.

The explanation made In another
column by Mr.. Heath for the action
OF himself as chairman OF the Re-
publican central committee, OF A.
( w. Rice, Republican nomlntee for
representative, and of III. A., Andre
son, Republican nominee for state
senator, voting to keep the Taft
candidates for electors off the Re-
publican ticket and to retain the
Roosevelt party candidates in that
place fails to show all the facts In
the situation. The matter Of which
party should have its electors on
the Republican ticket is merely one
Of everyday honesty in political af-
fairs.
Mr.. Heath's explanation that be-
cause the Roosevelt men received a
majority vote in the primary that
they are entitled to be on the Re-
publican ticket is more ingenious
than in accordance with the real
condition.
When Republican conventions we're
held last spring electors were chos-
en- in the belief that If elected in
November they would vote for the
nominees of the Republican conven-
tion for president and vice presl-
dent. No one believed for q minute
that they would do otherwise. At
ter the national convention, Mr..
Roosevelt announced that they would
leave the Republican party and call
ed another convention, organizing
the national Progressive party. He
declared that the Republican party
is made up OF husks, denouncing
those who remained in it and called
on his followers to join the new
party. 1t has its own nominees, It's
own organization and its object Is
to defeat the Republican ticket ev-
erywhere at the coming election.
The men nominated for electors
in Kansas have declared that they
will not. support the Republican nom
inees but will support the nOmineesa
~ the National Progressive party.
Through technicality 0f the KAN
sas primary law they may remain on
the Republican ballot under the Re-
publican name. emblem and presi-
dental ticket unless the United
States supreme court removes them,
The Republican state central
committee by majority vote re-
quested these electors to resign from
the Republican ticket and get on
ticket that would properly represent
their position. The party council,
which includes the candidates as
well as the central committee took
the opposite view and a majority
voted that the Progressive party
electors should remain on the Re-
publican ticket. Mr.. Heath, Mr..
Rice and Mr. Anderson voted with
the majority Of the party council
and Mr.. Heath with the minority in
the state central committee. All
three voted to retain Roosevelt cleo
tors on the Taft ballot.
The only question about the posi-
tion Of the electors is this: Should
man remain on the ballot of a
party which he does not intend to
supportY The Republicans have
nominated Taft and Sherman for
president and vice president The
electors on the Republican ballot |
should be men who expect to vote
for those candidates.
Had the electors declared that
they. would vote for Debsr would
there be any doubt about their get
ting off the Republican ticket2
Had the electors declared that
they would have voted for Wilson,
Wopid there be any doubt in the
matter?
As they have declared that they |
win vote for the Progressive Party
candidates is there any reason Why
they 1bonld remain on. the Republi-
can fIcket The Progressive party
Is - uineh opposed to RepuhIicaaism
as a. Socialists and DemocFpis.
Aas Aaa right 70 belong
Is rhs - party he desires bpt
IS tts IS Ktl q wear tie livery