Evening journal., 1912-10-17
THURSDAY, OCT. IL, 1912

J GEORGE II. HALL AND HIS RESPONSIBILITY.
THE letter OF Colonel Edmund Mitchell, chairman
i Of the Republican State Committee, to william
p White chairman Of the National Progressive state
Committee declining to exercise the good Offices Of
himself and his associates on the Republican State
Committee. to bring about the retirement Of George
II. Hall, the Republican candidate for Congress. and
the nomination of a compromise candidate will fail
70 receive believe, the approval OF a large
jOriB Of the Republican voters Of Delaware. When
Colonel Mitchell informs Mr. White that the Repub-
lIcau State Committee has no power to remove mir.
Hall from the ticket candidate he states truth,
but he begs the question. When he says that any
such retirement must the voluntary act Of
Mr.. HALL, he unIoads wholly upon that candidate
the responsibility for whatever consequences may re-
suit from his failure to retire. In other Words under
n plain reading OF Colonel Mitchelrs letter. II Mr.
Hall refuses to resign and ii his refusal leads COM
pcations which deliver State over to the SnuIs
bury Democratic machine, Hall must shoulder the
responsibility. Ii the Republican State ticket be
saved and ii the complication result only in the loss
Of Republican Congressman, Mr. Hall must stand
solely responsible for the election Of Franklin Brock
son, Democratic Free Trader. II seems to that
the Republican State Committee has unIoaded upon
Mr. Hall, and ufcrentialy invited him To assume.
burden Of responsibility which would break stronger
Mr.. Hall is good man, and a strong one, but
he is not political Atlas who can take upon his
shoulders, either voluntarily. by invitation. such a
burden as that, and hope to sustain it unharmed.
The popular conception Of political State Com
mittee is now, and always has been. that Il is
organization selected TO produce party victory from
political situation matter whether that situation
be simple or complex. The popular conception OF the
duty of State Committee always has been that when
II realizes that pursuance OF certain policy invites
ineyitihe defeat for the whole or part of the ticket
Of its party, II should change that policy, II that be
possible, to one which win make for success at the
polls. II must be clear to the members of the Re-
publican State Committee that il the National Pro-
gressiyes. who already have refused 10 support Mr..
Han. put a candidate Of their own I'M the field,
the defeat OF Hall will inevitable and the cIec-
ton Of Franklin Brockson, Free Trade Democrat. a
fOregone conclusion With such an exigency as that
confronting the Republican party, believe vast
majority OF the Republicans in Delaware viii think
Che Republican State Committee has an important
duty to perform and that Colonel Mitchelrs letter
TO Mr. White indicates that the committee has failed
10 size up either its political duty opportunity.
While II is true, as Colonel Mitchell asserts. that
the committee has power to compel Mr.. Hall tC
resign a candidate certainly has the power, ans
Il has exercised il time and again in primaries an,
sections 10 resort TO persuasion, appeal {,
effect the retirement of candidate whose continued
presence in the field would prove inimical to. ii no
absolutely destructive of, party Why sucl
persuasive power should not be exercised by the Re
publican State Committee upon Mr.. Hall, il ha
been with good effect upon other candidates in othe
campaigns, is not made clear by Colonel Mitchell Il
his letter Mr.. White. II is not conceivable that tn
Republican State Committee desires TO lead Mr.. Hal
as a sacrifcial Offering to the high altar Of defea
In the election impending. II is not conce,abI
that the Republican State Committee desires to brn
about election 20 Congress OF Franklin Brockso
Free Trade Democrat. And yet those assuredly wi
be the results its inaction unless Mr.. Hall shoul
take the initiative and resign from the ticket
Addressing ourselves TO Mr.. Hall, would sa
that Ms the Republican State Committee has put Il
situation squarey up to him; II has placed upo
his shoulders the sole responsibility for Republica
defeat the Congressional branch Of the ticket an
ms it has rivetted upon his political future whatev
party and public resentment and harm may resu
from the election of Free Trader Brockson, thiI
he should meet thst situation by resigning from Il
State ticket aud thereby place upon the Repub