The Washington herald., 1913-11-14
With the Political Procession.
BY II. b. G.

Private citizen c. ]. Harris. eminent
Republican leader and much else down
Asheville, N. c.. way, Joined many olo
friends of the real Republican faitn IN
Washington yesterday. and added to the
cheer Of things generally. Harris Is one
Republican Of the South who never got
entangied with. Progressive frills ana
continues in the old faith confident OF
getting together three years hence that
win atone for the disaster Of year ago
In the original Taft campaign, OF lsOS'
Harris was active before and after the
nomination. asking no reward, and was
no less active four years later in seeking
to give the President the North Carolina
delegation.
The Progressives put it over the Harris
contingent somewhat at Chicago, but
TIE old-fashioned Republican organiza-
ton Is still doing business in North Caro-
lima, and Harris with his old comrades
win continue hopeful Of united Repub-
lican party when the next convention
meets 1t is possibly overlooked that
North Carolina, while not especially reg
ular IN the matter OF choosing Republi-
cans to the Electoral College, has done
remarkably well In sending Republicans
to Congress. With the Taft election OF
lsoA. four Republicans came to Congress
from North Carolina, a record unequaled
by any other Southern State.
Now not one Republican member regis
ters from North Carolina, and the Pro-
gressive heresy is to blame for 1t.
Citizen Harris Is amiabie even II sor-
rowful, and he promises that next year
with no Federal patronage to fuss about
either at home or in Washington, there
will be a general getting together
throughout his State with hope Of win
ming back some OF the Congressional dis
tricts and making sure of a single Re-
publican delegation to a single Republi-
can national convention in 1916
North Carolina has done remarkably
well for the Republicans since 1894. even
II by spells: and while citizen Harris does
not complain, he may think with others
that the Republican organization North
has not fully appreciated what has been
done or how hard II is to do things for
the Republican party in a Southern State.
The great Republican wave OF 1894 took
In North Carolina, sending four Repub-
hcans to Congress and three Populists,
leaving the Democrats but wo members
in delegation OF nine. This was a bit
unusual and the Republicans did not ex-
pect to keep IL up, but they did very well
in the early Mckinley days, aided much
by Mark Hanna, who appreciated the
value OF North Carolina not only in Con-
gress but in a national convention. The
Cortelyou Craftsmanship of the Republl-
can National Committee in 1904 was also
discerning as to the usefulness of the
North Carolina contingent in national pol
itics so that there was peace in the fam
lily Throughout most Of the Roosevelt term.
The troubles began with the Progressive
rn0NRmapf and nrnTnIaa Of n
getting together. or at least a stiffenIng
up of the old regular organization.
With all the clamor rather than demand
for primary nominations there is a marked
reaction OF sentiment for the old-fash-
ioned convention-the rising Ito nominate
the man who"-the banners and brass
bands of opposing candidates. the head
quarters rooms in taverns, and free cigars
Of the three-for-a-quarter worst sort.
Whatever wicked things may have hap
pened in conventions, including the in
Fiction Of dull speeches and speeches too
long, II must be admitted that enthusiasm
was aroused and there was a real getting
next to candidates and to a considerable
portion Of the dear people, who, after all.
do most of the work in a campaign.
The primary provokes no enthusiasm
and fails to stir the souls OF men like an
old-fashioned convention. speeches and
roll calls, and all fully reported and faith
fully read by every voter who cares any
thing about politics. After all, men like
to meet in battle array and fence in pub
lie view; so that a convention brings out
the best that is in a political leader and
lets the people know more about him.
There has been something like a craze
for the primary, but II is less violent and
the yearning greater for an assembling
OF big men in an arena
What party would think of naming a
candidate for President in a silent pri-
mary? The national conventions have
grown greater and greater year by year
and are events that arouse the spirit and