Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1916-06-02

sound money. Again in 1903. the
choice OF the Democrats was not
known with certainty In advance, and
while the Republican nominee was
fairly well assured. the platform Of
that party promised as spirited a con
troversy as ever filed the galleries Of
a convention. Certainly both at Chi
cage and Baltimore the convention
scenes OF 1912 were sufficiently enter
tanning. But this year there is less In
terest I'm either the nomination or the
platform Mt st. Louis than at any time
within the memory Of the Oldest con
vention-gOer; while. on the other hand,
there Is more interest Though, as yet,
less demonstrativeJ in both the nOmi-
nation and the platform ct Chicago
than at any time since Lincoln was
first named in that city.
All Cut and Dried.
The cause Of all this is quite easy to
find. The denomination of Mr.. Wilson
will he a party necessity, even If It
were not a party desire. The Demo
cratic platform could be written now
by any newspaper reader In the land.
Its major note will be a strong ap-
prevail Of the whole Ourse Of the pres
/ ent administration, including the diplO.
macy which is said to have kept us out
Of war with Europe. and the wisdom
which, II will be claimed, has charac
terized our dealings with Mexico. The
minor notes will have to do with the
government ownership Of our mer
chant marine. the abandonment Of tho
Philippines, and the beneficial effects
Of the Underwood tariff law. The 81
lent measure will be used as TO suct
matters as a second term. free tolls OF
the Panama Canal for American coast
wise ships. and the high cost Of living
In sharp contrast with all this cut
and-dried program will be the Repub
llcan convention. No man a predic
with certainty the nominee, and NJ
man can write with safety the plat
form I'm advance. All that can be stat
ed with reasonable assurance Is tina
the grave crisis in international affair
and the universal demand for a re-es
adjustment Of the American DOCTRINE
Of protection. will bring together boil
factions OF the Republican party III
der one candidate and n declaration
OF principles. Who the candidate shal
be, and how far In this direction. o
that the platform shall go. are secret
now hidden In the processes Of gesta
ton.
The Republican party has neve
faced a more solemn duty, or a NOR
inspiring opportunity. That the couT
try Is ready to return It to power /
written large I'm every political omeI
Not only has the fact persisted throug
the last four years that the Republlca.
voters. united. are in a clear majority
but every election held since the las
Presidential campaign. I'm which ms
tiOnal issues we're involved, has show
an increase In that majority. All tn
party needs to do is to stand up square
tOed TO the occasion.
That there WIN be a good fight n
shrewd observer doubts. That defea
10 possible, even that there are way
to make 1t certain, every frank an
dislnterested party man viii admi
That victory il assured II there is sun
mOned TO the cause the whole Repul
llcan sentiment OF the country, all RI
publlcans and all Democrats know.
Necessary Qualifications.
In such an emergency who Is th
best man TO nOminate3 1t is easier I
describe his type than to find his nam
First; The Republican nominee ma
Be a a experienced IN public aDai,
He must know world politics. and b
|, must be skilled In domestic Legislation
There is nothing so dangerous TO III
fortunes OF a democracy, or indeed {
any other government, as a theorist 1
power. No man whose habits Of III
have held him aloOf from practical a
fairs can wisely lead or Interpret POI