Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-04-03
Accepting C,l,an,i,,s' Plan
INevad. Representative

we are hoping that It will: but It Is
going to take an actual convention cali
to convince the public.
What we are sure Of in the matter
10 that the SO general consent OF the
republican leaders to the plan OF re-
organization puts 1t out OF question
that the republican party will be able
to maintain consequential existence
without actually adopting the plan OK
reorga nization. It is hard to win eiec-
ton BY bluffing. but there Is nevertne-
less often very much political efficacy
in q great bluff. The men who stole
the late republican national conven-
ton knew they had stolen 1t and pri-
vately they made very little conceal
ment Of the fact, but publicly they put
on bold face and cited presidents
from away back to Justify their con-
duct. Operating on this basis they did
not hold half Of the republican vote
for their candidate: but they held a lot
more votes than they would have held
il they had owned up to the truth
about their performances.
Now, however, the bluning Is over
The men and newspapers who are IN
position to speak for regular republi-
can opinion are definitely ana
openly committed to the propositi iii
that the southern delegate with no
constituency behind him and with no
credentials but those conferred on him
by the national committee in consider
alton for his voting on the committees
side has got to go, that the overriding
Of the plainly expressed DEGREES OF Re
publicans in republican states must not
be repeated, and that the public Is en-
titled to early and irrevocable assur-
ance that the reform indicated Is
fact No longer is it possible after
such commitments to put up any argu-
ment for the republican party except
ing on the basis of an equitable ap-
portionment of delegates and Of formal
recognition Of the rights OF states to
choose their delegates by vote OF the
people. II after the situation has been
thus and so plainly developed and the
regular spokesmen have agreed that
the old system Is wrong, the members
o. the national committee shall from
personal and sordid motives adhere to
the old scheme and it's old and corrupt
opportunities and thus in effect put it
out Of the power OF the republican
party to reform itself as the republic
can party now wishes to reform itself.
then 1t Will no longer be possible 10
set UP the claim that the republican
party is an agency for popular govern
ment in which the people will or
should be asked TO confide. 1t will then
be pam TO everyone that the party is
hopelessly and coIrurtly controlled.
despite the confessions, solicitations
and prayers of those who are best en-
titled to speak for Its remnants.
The regular republican leaders may
or may not be able TO convince their
own national committee of the neces-
sity 4of becoming decent; but they
ha ve made an effectuai admission that
without such decency the party is past
revival. In case OF failure now to car
~ out the reform program the repub-
lican voters. save the sorriest rem
nant. VIII know that any futher en-
deavor to re- establish the old party
under the republican name Is futile,
but that, however, closely the new OPP
position party NAV in membership AMI
disposition resemble the old republican
party. the effective reorganization
must be under a new name as well 80
under new leadership. The day OF pro-
baton is nearly over. The republican
party must accept the Cummins plan
soon or yield up the ghost.