Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1916-03-24
EIaING RArs REPUBLICANS
Republican County Chairman Chides
His Own Party Members for In-
tra-Party Scraps Over Ma
Selection.

Judge f. II. Elting, of this city,
chairman of the Bryan County Re-
publican organization. is out with
a lengthy article which he calls "Po-
litical ideals; or What is the Matter
with the Republican Party in Okla
homa?" in which the judge hands
his political compatriots several hard
iolts over political activities in which
they seem to be engaged
The article not only charges that
the Democratic party has lost the
confidence of the people of the
state, but virtually admits the Re
publican party TO be in the same
boat
TIE evil resulting from a distribu-
ticn of political patronage is deplor-
cd and the mad scrap within the Re
publican party for the honor of be
ing national committeeman, which
honor. as Judge Elting says. should
seek the man, and not be sought by
the man, is severely scored.
The writer practically admits that
discord is rife In the party. and the
following excerpts from the article,
which are unquestionably straight
tips to tn eparty leaders, are some
what enlightening to Democrats.
who, until recently at least, believed
the Republican party to be united:
"The fight over the National
Committeeship that is now pre-
vailing in this State among the
partisans of the Republican par
ty BODIES nothing but evil for the
future of that party How can
you hope to have united, mill
tant, fighting force after such
distintegrating effects as are
produced by the ever recurring
fight over who shall be the pie
distributor!
"It must be admitted that for
some reason the people of our
State hold the Republican party
in some degree of distrust. The
feeling prevails that If Oklaho-
ma goes Republican, it will not
be because our party deserves
it, but that the people have ac-
cepted it as the lesser of two
evils.
There must be some innate
weakness in the leadership of
our party-,some lack of moral
fiber that has caused it 10 fall
short of that standard which the
r.F bfe 40 20 nd
of it before giving 1t recogni-
ton.
Just reflect on what is now
going on in this State! A mad,
disgraceful scrap; a pernicious
intra-party activity abetted by
those who claim to be our lead
ers, which will inevitably result
in party factionalism. The af-
fair is already characterized by
wild chickering's, ordinations
and recriminations, and, If not
stopped, will spell disaster for
the party What is it all about?
There is nothing at stake ex-
cept a position that commands
no salary. and to which there
are no ostensible perQuisites.
Nothing but the honor of the Of
flee and the power to deal out
the patronage. Nothing else
can be legitimately connected
Herewith. The National Com
mitteeship is high honor, and
it is one that should come to the
recipient by common consent;
one that should seek the man.
and not one that should be
sought for and scrambled for.
This should be so for many rea-
sons. If il cannot come to the
recipient with such unanimity
and with such freedom from all
factional alignment that the re-
cipient can elicit the active sup
port in behalf of the party. of
every unit of the party, the in
cumbency of the office then be-