Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1913-02-28
THE OLD GUARD.

The Old Guard Republican leaders
in Washington with the help OF a
large newspaper clack and the sub
Stantial assistance of certain press
associations, is industriOuSly striving
to create the impression throughout
the country that there is to be re-
organization of the Republican Party.
This reorganization according To
plans adopted by Republican Senate
leaders is to be effected through the
medium OF a National Convention to
be held some time next fall. Senators
Crane and Root are most active in
the open promotion OF this plan.
Senator Root has issued a statement
In which he advocates the holding OF
such convention, for two purposes:
sFirst: to make representation In
national conventions proportional to
the Republican vote; that is, correct-
ing the disproportion in what is spok-
en- of as the Sou thern representation.
Second: to permit the Republicans
of each State to elect delegates to ma
OlNCAOlOuo Al CAASAA S"A WY ,
so that the choice In each State will
be regulated according to the laws of
the State"
This means that Senator Root, af-
ter having borne prominent part in
the Republican National Convention
of 1912 and after having defended
that Convention and the outrages 1t
committed for many months, now
confesses that's that convention was
wrong and admits that provision
must be made to prevent a repetition
of it,
But while Senator Roots public
pronouncement on the subject seems
to aim at really honest and praise
worthy object nearly all Of the cir
cumstances attendant upon the ef-
fort he and other Old Guard leaders
are making tend to confirm the sus-
picion that their real purpose Is mere
ly to set up another stalking-horse
with which again to attempt TO de-
ceive the voters and, II possible, bind
the people anew to "The Party OF
Privilege and Special Interest"
The proposed new Republican Ma
tional Convention is avowedly to be
held in the hope Of enticing back to
their old allegiance numbers OF ex-
Republicans who left their party af-
ter the iniquitous convention OF last
year and joined the Progressive Party.
The Old Guard bosses have no inten-
tion whatever Of surrendering their
grasp upon the party organization and
machinery. They have some realiza-
tion at length, however, OF the ex-
tent to which they are discredited
throughout the country and are seek
ing as best they can to mollify the
National distrust Of themselves In
the hope of climbing back once more
to power.
In this effort to re-polish their
tarnished fame, they are adroitly
making all possible use OF certain
gentlemen who, having attained some
reputation for being progressive, still
continue TO act with the Republican
PARTY. Chief of these men are Sena-
tors LaFoilette, OF Wisconsin, Cum
minis, of Iowa, and Borah, of Idaho,
and Ex-Governor Hadley, of Missouri.
Mr.. LaFollette came TO Washington
with long record of distinguished
progressive achievement and he Inn
proved that record in the first years
of his service here, but he could not
stand the shock of personal disappoint-
ment in 1912, when his vigorous and
widely extended canvass for the Re-
publican presidential nomination fail
ed to arouse popular response.
Mr.. Cummins also came to Wash.
ington with a distinguished record OF
public achievement in his own State,
but he to failed to arouse popular en-
thuslasm.
MI. Borah, after varied and some
what stormy career In Idaho, came to
Washington equipped in all points