The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1915-09-23
WHO HAS AUTHORITY TO DECIDE
WHO IS REPUBLICAN?


WHO IS Republican,?
Some of our hard-bitted. God and
morality editors who brand themselves
as Republican in the superlative de-
gree. are spending great deal Of
their time and space these days try
ing to breed trouble for the party for
which they claim TO hold a special
brief. They are lambasting all those
who refused to vote for Mr.. Taft two
years ago. and are laying down IRON
clad rules and conditions to which these
free and independent voters, who forum
erly constituted majority of that party
must subscribe before they will be AL
lowed to vote for a regularly nominat-
ed Republican candidate for the presi-
dency in an endeavor ito Dust the pres
emit incompetent administration.
They denounce the Wilson admits
fration and say 1t must be relegated
next year. and at the same time they
are doing everything In their power to
insult, incense and drive away the only
source of added strength that will make
II possible for a Republican president
to be elected. Editors who will do such
fool thing haven't sense enough to
be frusted with the editorial columns
OF a paper; and If they We're ieally
the party. 1t would not be worth pre-
serving. But. thanks be. no man or lit
tie coterie OF men constitute the Re-
publican party. 1t DIS founded upon prdn-
ciples that are immortal and imperish-
able. and that fact alone is all that has
at times saved 1t from Its fool friends.
Former President Taft is quoted as
saying that the Progressives Of 1912
party in 1916, but that they cannot
bring their principles along with them.
Mr.. Tafts admirable personal quail
ties have served TO give him an affec-
tionate place In the minds OF many OF
his fellow citizens, but we are not awar
that these qualities or the fact that
he was once our president permit Mr..
Taft to pose as the sole judge Of in
dividual qualification for classification
as Republican Further. we do not
believe that any body OF men now pos
sess such power. The Republican party
is not social club. 1t has no COM
miatee ON membership to whom in
tending Republicans must submit tnem-
selves. There are no black balls in our
party paraphernalia,
Men join the Republican party. or
act with It from time to time. from
conviction: because Republican dotcrine
as contained In the Republican plat
form appeals to their reason; or be-
cause of qualifications or the attrac-
tive personality OF Republican candi-
dates. These ARE the only limitations
upon membership in the Republican
party-and they. permit the widest lati-
tude for Individual opinion because there
are many matters which may be OF
commanding Importance ito a state or
to grow of states and which never
find exr.essim in a national platform.
Moreover, platforms change with the
times There are certain cardinal Re-
publican doctrines which are unalterable
---such as government by law rather
than by men. tariff for protection,
vigorous foreign policy. am efficient cur
rency. But party of growth and Of
advance like ours adapts itself to the
needs of the occasion For example,
the plank In the platform of 1908 re-
lating to labor and mjunctions-a plank,
by the way, for which Mr.. Taft con-
tended earnestly--could have found no
place In the platform of 1860 because no
occasion existed for 1T at the earlier
date
Therefore. who can tell what win be
in the platform OF 1852 A government
by law rather than by menu Most as
suredly. A protective tariff? Yes Eff
ficient currency law? Certainly. A
sterling expression ON foreign relations?
Without doubt. A just Indictment OF
the present administrators? Emphatic
ally. yes.
These win form the basis OF Republic
an doctrine. whoever subscribes to
them will be Republican He may
hold whatever other views he
may choose. He may try to write
these Views into the platform. II they
are sound views. he VIII succeed. But
II he fails and II he still acts with
the Republican party, he may hold to
whatever opinions he pleases as to So
icai Justice. the initiative, the referen-
dunn. the recall, or any other funda-
mentals OF local government So long
as he votes the Republican ticket he
win be good enough Republican for
us-and It viii not lie with Mr.. Taft.
or with any other ex-president, or with
any Individual anywhere TO say differ
emily.
The Republican party Us the party Of
hberty-and that is why Mr.. Taft can
can say what ne pieases and why any
other Republican may say what he
pleases so long as he atcs in harmony
with the major doctrines OF the Repub-
ncan party
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