New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-04
The Republican Conference Must
Help the Voters to Get
Square Deal.

The Republican conference which will assemoe
here tomorrow will represent in essence, the pres
ent control of the Republican party in this state
commendabe effort has been made TO have au'o'
Gates of all shades of political belief within 'he
party in attendance Nevertheless. in body which
IS anproxmately an unofficial state convention as
in the regularly elected state convention the active
party workers and those in charge Of the party ma
chnery must outnumber other elements. therefore,
whatever results from this conference must De
Judged, and inevitably will be judged, by the pubic
as the declaration Of policies and principles Of the
existing Republican organization.
In itself the calling of such gathering Is adms-
sion that Republicanism as administered TO the
voters has not been altogether satisfactory pre-
scrlption Such admission, by those responsible Tor
the situation, is hopeful If it be followed by a
willingness to study diligently and work faithfully
and sincerely in the effort TO give satisfaction
The way to do that is emphatically not the way
that has been followed in the last three or -FOUR
years The voters feel-whether with justice OF not
IS immaterial so far as results are concerned-tha'
they have not had a square deal from the hepuo-
1ican marty. It is time they had evidence OF de-
sire 70 give them what they themselves would admit
to be square deal.
The voter individually and collectively, is not I'M
reasonable His political ideas are comparatively
simple. He wants a party organization built from
the bottom up not from the top down as he knows
il TO he at present. He wants laws safeguarding
him in his privileges party member against the
acgressions of those into whose hands of necessity
power is given.
He wants the simplest and most direct way of
choosing party candidates for office, for he believes
such candidates more likely to be independent OF
political and financial control than those hand picked
by boss or a clique of bosses. He wants public
officials to administer their offices not according to
the beliefs or directions of boss or BOSSES but
according to their own beliefs TO the publics in
terest and their observations of public opinion
The public was educated to this standard by
Hughes a Republican Governor 1t has repudiated
Republican platforms which fell below it and one
Republican Assembly which did not measure up to
It, There is no reason to believe that it would treat
differently other platforms, official or unofficial or
other Republican officials or legislators If they too
fell below 1t.
With this in mind, the conference can do the Re-
publican party great service If 1t outline an ag-
pressIye. progressive, up-to-date legislative pro-
gramme for the coming year.
That should be followed by appropriate action to
helm in the election Of able, progressive Speaker
Of the Assembly to take the lead In carrying out the
rropramme No halfway measures half-loaf
policies will restore lost public confidence Nothing
less than positive action in the beginning of cam
paign for a square deal for the voters will be Of the
slightest good at this time.