The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1913-01-23

the same number, but that of the
total number sent from any state
there should be a like representa-
ton from each party.
I he fact that the Progressives
cast a larger vote in November
should not justify them in expect
ing larger number of delegates
than their opponents. While the
Republicans are numerically weak
er. they are at the same time
stronger in their established organi
Eat on, and in their avenues of
pub ilcity, through an excess Of
new spapers favorble to them. On
the other hand, the Progress
ives are stronger in that they are
essf ntially unit, whereas the
Republicans are divided into con-
servatives, reactionaries, and prac
tical Progressives.
Moreover, the Progressive party
is especially strong in its youth,
its zeal, and its spirit, which is the
spirit of duty and of triumph.
These qualities in themselves are
a tremendous power in a political
organization.
But beyond the question of
which party is the stronger is the
vital fact that no satisfactory re-
suits could be worked out in the
national conference if one party
could out vote the other. With
equal representation from each
neither would have any advan-
tage over the other.
| The number Of delegates from
each state should be in proportion
to the combined Roosevelt-Taft
vote in the November election.
That is to say, instead Of fixing thu
number Of delegates by Congress
ional districts, it would work out
better, everything considered-the
southern delegate situation in par
ticular considered - to base tn
nunn ber of delegates on the actual
number of the combined votes cas-
in the various States for Roose-
welt and Taft.
In this way, the convention
would consist of delegates actu
ally representative of the Repub-
lican n and the Progressive voters
of the country, and this is as it
should be. To do efficient work,
the national conference should be
kept down to the smallest number
of delegates that would give rep
resentation to every state,
The men in the Republican and
Progressive parties who put party
name ahead of principles and poll
} cies doubtless will not take kind
ly TO this suggestion, or to any
similar suggestion; the men who
put principles and policies ahead
of name will perhaps see in it o
way to be cleaning.
Naturally, / should not expect
Barne and Penrose and Gallinger
and Crane and others of their type
to take kindly to this plan, or to
any other plan looking toward lib
eral and advanced ideas. They
and Wall Street are conservative
to the last degree, and are indulg-
ing in the vision of seeing the re-
publican party re-established on
ultra-conservative lines, reaction
airy lines.
But it is not within the scope
of possibilities to do this. The
spirit of progress is in control to-
day in every phase of life and
endeavor, and nowhere more so
than in politics. 1t is the veriest
folly to indulge in illusions of re-
acti onary triumph.
Moreover, it is not likely that
mac ine leaders who are in poll
tics for their own glorification, or
for what they can get out of it,
: would favor any move that would
and should put them out of bust
ness. This is the voters problem
to solve. 1t is for him to deter
mine whether he will think and
. act for himself as a free man, or
will remain puppet in the hands
J of the bosses.
A mere name is an empty shell
: The collective heart and soul anC
: brain and force within this shell
are the party. The Republicans
2 of character and sincerity, under