Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-08-04

insistence so far as Democratic CUB
ernatorial candidates are concerned.
However dogmatic this may be, how
ever much it may violate the spirit
of the Geran act. 1t does effectively
promote united action, and the pun
lie press have accepted PRESIDENT
Wilson's orders in this connection
without unfavorable comment.
"If the Republican party is to make
a courageous campaign, someone
must authoritatively direct Its course
There is no one man in the party
who can speak authoritatively in this
connection. The State committee Is
mere de facto badly. without power,
and soon will be entirely reorgan-
lied. The party, however has a rep
resentative organization, selected I'M
der the Geran law by the voters
themselves at a direct primary. The
various Republican county commit
tees of the State were elected at the
same primary and by the same voters
at which all nominations We're made
These county committees derive their
authority directly from the people
under the most progressive law for
popular rule ever enacted in State.
If anybody can speak for the Re-
publican party, they can.
at suggest that the members of all
the Republican county committees of
the State join together In a State con-
ference. that they organize informally
into deliberative body and that they
then openly and frankly discuss the
party situation and freely express
their views as to what the sentiment
Is throughout the State upon the
question of standard bearer for the
gubernatorial campaign, the proper
reorganization of the State commit
tee on progressive lines and other
matters affecting the welfare of tho
State This would make gathering
of fifteen hundred or more, represent
ing all sections and opinions of the
party throughout the State. At least
four things should be considered:
Il. The declaration of the party's at
titude on progressive principles.
az. A recommendation as to reorgani-
"a ton of the State committee with
new and active young men in COM
mand.
80. Declaration in favor of proper
representation of the Republican
voters at the next national conven-
tion,-so it could not be controlled by
any one set Of men.
"a. A frank discussion of the senti-
ment relative to gubernatorial
standard bearer for the coming cam
paign.
'I would have no Endorsement of
any candidate. In that respect we
will be more progressive than our OPP
ponents, but 1 can see no harm, ana
much good to be derived from a free,
untrammeled exchange of views upon
the party sentiment throughout the
State. A candidate who is unwilling
to permit the public to know what
public sentiment is upon his aspira-
lions or the aspirations of anyone
else, would be a strange kind or
candidate. If it was developed that
public sentiment demanded the NOM
nation of any particular man, That
man could then refuse to serve or
could submit his name to the prima-
ries subject to the approval of the
voters themselves The other candi-
dates would then know public senti-
ment on this question, and they would
be at liberty either to acquiesce in 1t
or to continue their fight. The party
situation Is such that it seems to me
a self-imposed candidacy would sim
ply invite not only defeat, but humil-
iation. 1t is a time when only that
man may serve whom the party really
wants, and he can only serve at the
party request. Such a candidate
would at least have, and know that he
had, the loyal support of the rank and
file.
"Such a conference as l have sug-
gested, to be effective, must be free
from any manipulation on the part of
anyone and must not be directly or
indirectly influenced in the interests
of any single individual. 1t must sit
without prejudice and with but one
object. that of the public welfare. 1t
must sit as body of the peoples rep
resentatives, elected. as 1t has been,
by the people. and only good can
come when the peoples representa-
tives are in conference