The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-12-16
NEED OF CONSERVATIVE PARTY.

Most Republicans Will aooPt th'
"open uiud'' policy in regard to the
calling Of a special National conven-
tiop. We shall see what we shall see,
h,,+ without indorsing a National con-
veptiou. we can detect no harm IN the
nresent conference of the Natlonal
Committee. An exchange OF IDEAS
among those who advocate or oppose
n convention or those who maintain an
omen mind should result in clear
ing of the atmosphere that Will give
better vision to Republicans anu
Progressives alike.
1t is proposed by some that the sPe'
eisl convention should adopt a plat
form-a middle ground-for Repuon-
cans and Progressives. Political IN
tuition will suggest to the members OF
tbe committee that this is entering
upon a perilous venture, If conVen-
tiop meets a middle ground will be dis
cussed, but it would seem unwlse TO
adopt a declaration of principles SO
far in advance Of the National conven-
tion, Issues which loom large now
NAV be considered of much less I'M
poYtapce in 1916. Some of the reform
fads of today may melt into thin air,
and other reforms that arouse only
casual interest at this time may have
proved of significance and of high
value three years from now.
If the Republicanism of Lincoln and
of Mckinley should be swept aside at
a special convention to make way for
the principles advocated by the radical
Progressivcs. we would find the Repub'
lican party IN a strange and almost
impossible position in 1916. Then both
the Republican and Democratic parties
would be radical We would have a
campaign IN which no conservative
party would participate. In this coun'
trv, aud IN fact in all the countries
where representative government OBJ
taips TO a greater or less extent, 1T
has been considered essential that there
should be conservative and radical
parties. We would be going far upon
uucharted seas. therefore. ii we utter
~ cast aside conservatism and turned
all our political controversies over to
the radicals. Indeed, 1t would be
shameful folly. What can the Republi-
can party hope TO gain IN campaign
where it is not deemed the coDserva-
tive party! II the good things In gov
ernment for which IT has stood mean
nothing. then the fads aud fancies Of
the Proercssives may be deemed the
height Of political wisdom But if we
admit that. We coucede that the science
Of government which seemingly has ad'
vauced step by step for thousands OF
wears is nothing better than delusion
What have ell the struggles OF the
Epglish.speaking peoples availed If
thew have only succeeded in founding
institutions that are TO DE swept aside
IN a few months or lew years as
mere chat by enthusiasts who boast
that they are the world S only true
progressivesf
We do not believe that the Repub
icau party will abandon its conserva
tive principles. Our recent experiences
IN this country with various reforms
such az the direct primary, have moi
been so convincing that we need feal
10 remain conservative, and il is safe
10 predict that other reforms, such a,
tho recall Of Judges and the recall Of
judicial decisions, il they obtain Z
foothold will turn out disappoint
ments. Moreover, the Democratic ad
ministration is not such brilliant sue
cess that the Republican party shoulc
be persuaded TO abandon its ancien
doctrines. We may we'll believe tina
three years from now the conservative
in politics will have a much bette
reason for existence than they hav,
had at any time since the days o
Cleveland.