The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-08-15

was to be but one real Republican
candidate before the convention?
Many delegates had their misgiyings
at the time. They remembered that
in the widely advertised Columbus
speech the name Republican was not
even mentioned, but they still felt con-
fident that no man would have the
audacity to ask for presidential
nomination at the hands of a Repub-
lican national convention when at
heart he was no longer a Republican
In the light of later events we know
of course, that this was a case of mis-
placed confidence, in other words
that Mr.. Roosevelt never intended to
abide the decision of the convention
except he himself would be the NOM
inee. We know now that 1t was an
ordinary holdup. not even without the
customary threat Your purse or your
life" Give me the nomination or I'll
kill you" Yes, and we can go further
date made up his mind to violate all
American traditions of political de-
eency and go to Chicago. at that very
moment he knew he was beaten, but
expected to save the day by personal
appeals to the delegates through per-
suasion, promises, coercion. or threats.
NEW PARTY'S BlRTHRIGHT A
LIE"
But he came with treachery in his
heart and fully determined to bolt if
things went against him, hence we are
forced to the conclusion that what
ever its decisions on the contests, the
national committee would have been
condemned if these decisions had not
resulted in his nomination. The cry
of fraud was premediated. and the
shameless ejaculation "Thieyes!
with which he shocked his audience on
his entrance into Chicago was the
battle cry of the new party. There
could be no other, for principles and
policies were forgotten, and if himself
were nominated he would have made
the race on any old platform, with his
frantic followers shouting "Hosanna!
There was no more effective means
to undermine the old party than to
defame it's character. In order to put
new party on its feet it became nee
essary to run down the old one. Ger
tainly no sane citizen will desert his
party and all its happy associations
as long as he has confidence in it,
hence that confidence had to be de-
stroyed. What was there more con-
venient than to seize upon the con-
tests as the handiest big stick for the
work of destruction? If the national
committee had needed the injunction,
Thou shall not steal except for me.
all would have been we'll. but its de
termination to do its work conscien-
tiously brought all the prearranged
plans of party treachery to full fruit
ion. A new party was born, but is it
not bound to be stillborn? Can a
party live or ought it to live when its
birthright is lie?
The national committee is not en-
titled to any credit for the faithful
performance of its duty, but | predict
that the time will come when the peo-
pie will thank God its members could
not be swayed by popular clamor and
had the courage to settle all con-
troversies strictly in accordance with
the facts and the evidence.
Mr.. Chairman and gentlemen 1t is
for you and not for me to say whether
in my twenty years Of service in this
House | have established a reputa-
ton for veracity, but from most in
innate knowledge of the facts and the
evidence | again assert upon by per
sonal honor and | am willing to reiter-
ate it before my Maker that there was
not a single delegate in the Chicago
convention who was not fairly entitled
to a seat therein, and that consequent
ly President Taft was honestly NOM
mated