The Washington times., 1912-06-11
AGAIN, THE SOUTHERN DELEGATES.


sideraon Of the credentials Of the delegates from
the Southern States, attention is being commanded
anew to the fact that the Southern wing of the Re-
publican party as organized menaces the in
tegrty, the very existence of the party.
1t has been just rehashing Of the old, disgust
ing story of paper organization fake leadership, and
patronage bosssm throughout the series Of Southern
contests 1t is no new story; is old the genera
tion since reconstruction brought these States back
to their full measure of political rights. But this year
has impressed itself before, because the
South, given importance that it does not deserve
is suddenly recognized as the arbiter Of the whole
party's destnies.
Whatever else the convention in Chicago may do,
ought in the interest Of the country and the party
to put an end to this situation The ratio of repre-
sentaton Of the South should be reduced to point
within moderation and reason
Yet in all probability that will not be accomplish
ed Whichever side WINS whichever controls and
nominates Presidential candidate will be compelled
to obgate itself to of the Southern States and
they WILL as always in the past extract the pledge that
their representation shall not be interfered with.
Four years ago the resolution to change the system
came within handful Of votes Of passing; but it
failed; failed because pledges of this kind had been
secured, sufficient to defeat the reform.
If that resolution had been adopted at that time,
the present disastrous condition of the party would
have been avoided There would have been no such
fight as is now in progress simply because there
would have been no material out Of which to build
up the Taft structure of boss-ridden, patronage
owned delegates. There would have been no danger
of the peoples will being defeated by few bosses
who have nothing whatever to give to the party that
they assume to dominate.
word, then, of earnest appeal to the leaders
of both Sides
If you, President Taft, win this nomination. it
should be your purpose henceforth to rehabilitate
the party that has honored you. You will have no
personal ambitions to stand in the way Of doEg right
There will be no reason why you should not require
your managers to support the proposal to reduce
Southern representations 1t would be very real
service to the party.
If you, Colonel Roosevelt win, you will know
all the reasons why the South should be placed in
different attitude toward the party. 1t will be your
duty to see that the reform is carried out
Both of you know that the vast majority of the
better element of Southern Republicans want this
thing DONE Scores of them are in Chicago, today,
urging it, They point out that the party cannot hope
to rise above its present corrupt and miserable
dton, until this change is made. They say that
the new industrias1n the magnificent prosperity the
influx of Northern people to the South hold out
every justification for the belief that real credit
able, an effective Republicansm could be built there
in few years. if this incubus were removed
There is no more important duty before the
Chicago convention than this. Will it get attention
| or will it once more be neglected?
The very life of the party may depend on the
| answer. If this scandalous condition shall continue
at the South, it is absolutely certain that historians
Of the future, portrayng for children the decline
and fall of the Republican party, will name this
scandal as of the important contributing causes