The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1916-03-09
REPUBLICAN BOSSES DOING
WE'LL.

We are informed that the republic
can bosses in the east are seeking
uninstructed delegations to the ma
tional convention. This tells us the
kind of politics the republican bosses
are prepared to put their trust IN
just four years after 1912. $500.
The g. 0. p. finds itself, but Httle
more than three months before the
calling to order Of the 1916 conven-
ton, wholly at sea as to the selection
of a candidate. There are just two
ways to select one. 1t must be done
either by disqualification OF pubic
opinion or by arbitrary action OF a
few bosses. The first means stimu-
lating discussion; the second means
sitting it. The first plan is demo-
cratic; the second is autocratlc.
The first must be carried out in the
open; the second is best put
through in a back room, with quiet
gentleman of stealthy tread and I'M
limited discretion in CHARGE or the
door.
We read that Crane, Lodge,
Barnes and Penrose head the move
ment to secure uninstructed delega-
tons. Lodge represents the intel
lect of the republican party and MUIR
ray Crane it's eminent respectability;
Barnes and Penrose are machine
leaders pure and simple. Among
the four, everything in current repuD-
ucanism is represented except the
progressive element.
Four years ago this element was
the dominant force in the party, as
was proven when the two wings part
ed company and the people were CIV
en- a chance to vote. While the pro-
gressive party was hero-Worshlp-
ing fellowship and was weighted
down with such impediments as Geo.
Perkins and Bill Finn, it neverthe-
less represented a popular reaction
against the machine and an attempt
to substitute the mind of The people
as a directing force for blind loyalty
to the DEGREES of bosses.
Now the interesting thing in this
effort on the part OF Messrs. Lodge,
Crane, Barnes and Penrose to secure
uninstructed delegations is the evil
dence that it affords that these as
tute leaders believe that the lesson
|of 1912 has already lost it's value
and that it is safe to bark back to
the old dark-lantern type of political
leadership, Just as if body OF re-
publican delegates at a Chicago con-
vention had never withdrawn and
sung Onward, Christian Soldiers
in rival convention of their own.
They expect to trade and haggle in
the same old way, to deliver the
votes of delegates who are mere
pawns on the board, to make the de-
cisions of the party for it. They are
Bourbons; they learp nothing; they
forget nothing.
In 1912 the progressives hailed the
coming of new day. Boss rule was
dead; the people had asserted them
selves. And in four short years we
find the progressive leaders largely
back in the republican party; one OF
the chiefest of them lauds William
II. Taft in the pages of Golfers; and
the wirewound standpat bosses meet
counting confidently on the return
of the progressive prodigal, tc
scheme for the uninstructed delega-
tons to the convention, that they
may dicker and trade to their hearts
desire.
These same bosses have recovered
from their indisposition Of four years
ago; they are doing well as we go to
press. We conceive it likely that they
will continue to thriVe-until they
hear from the American people.-St.
Louis Republic.