The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1914-02-19

who followed Sheridan, Sherman and
Grant, imbued with q great cause,
dominated by Q great purpose, could
have changed commanders q score Of
times and still fought ON to victory.
II every assumed leader and every
committeeman Of the party from
ocean shore to ocean shore should
resign tonight and announce that the
hour Of dissolution was at hand, be-
fore the sun had get upon another
day the rank and file would seize
the banner where 1t fell and straight
way entrust 1t to loyal hands.
"Mr. President. the division at
Chicago arose by reason and ON &C
count OF an ancient and discredited
method of holding party conventions
"a method in vogue with all partys.
but out of date and moribund never
theless. No one was there seeking
honor and place at the hands Of
that convention who would not have
been glad to utilize the party as q
party had the results been salts
factory. Those who afterwards left
the party had expressed no doubt of
the wisdom Of It's established policies,
or the integrity and purpose and pro
gressive bent of dts membership, or
- to the efficiency Of the party as
IN instrument for progressive legis-
lation and administration. The fAct
that they were there seeking honors
1t ito disposal proved conclusively
that they were IN accord with it,
principles. had faith In its policies,
and relied upon 1t a. am instrument
ality of progressive advancement.
To suppose otherwise would be to
charge them with duplicity and insin-
cerity. a charge which I would be
the last to make. In fact, 1t was
charged then, and It Il charged now,
that the majority Of the party, that
b. the voters. were one way and the
organization another-upon no other
theory could the action which fol-
lowed be justified. I entertained.
and entertain, that opinion myself.
For these reasons some OF Us thought
that the essential thing to be done
was to change the system, the ma
chinery Of the party. In order that
there might never again be any ques-
ton as to the free play OF opinion
and the free expression OF view of
the members, and to make certain
beyond peradventure the carrying
out of the conviction and the purposes
Of that splendid body of citizenship
which from the beginning has con-
stituted the real strength of the party.
It seemed to some that 1t was wiser
to get out and fight from the outside.
It seemed to others who were equally
sincere that it was lacking In strategy
and effectiveness, II not In courage,
TO give up the vantage of name and
prestige, Of honor and achievement,
when the sole fault was one of organ
lzation and not in the membership
or policies. ! do not critic those
whatever charge may be made as to
the ambitions of individuals, no hon
est man would doubt the high pur-
poses and patriotism of the four mil
lion voters. But l do say that every
obstacle which stood in the way of
success of the cause as we viewed
1t has been completely removed
There has never been time when the
machinery of the party was SO COM
pletely subject to the direction of
the voters. OF course this viii be de-
MED by those who would destroy the
party, whether 1t does right or whether
1t does wrong, but it will not be
denied by those who investigate and
sincerely want to see the party re-
and re-established, and
made to do the service OF the peo-
pie in this country so it performed
that service In its best days. Let
the facts be submitted.
For years the question of rep
resentation in the republican nation
al convention has been a disturbing
problem. 1t was believed that the
south had vote in the convention
out of all proportion to its vote at
the polls. 1t was disgraceful af-
fair in its influence at the conven-
ton which nominated Harrison the
second time. II was just as much
Of an evil In 1904 and 1908 as in
1912. The desired change was de-
feated in 1904 by a small vote and
through the influence of those who
afterwards came to see its evils.
But certainly that matter has been
disposed of. The southern states
now have but 164 votes as against
S19 in the convention. 1t seems to