South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-06-05

the following election, has not been
scrapped after all. 1t has merely
been in the machine shops for re-
pairs and for some new attach
ments. The most important Of the
latter appears TO be a pattern appar-
atus, which enables the national
committee at viii to disregard it's
prior formal action in recognition
Of certain national committeeman
and state chairmen against whose
organizations there have been
trumped up a series Of fraudulent
contests.
Chain OF Procedure
The chain Of procedure which
the national committee formed at
its ST. Louis meeting in 19l7 and at
the Washington meeting in 1919
contained three links. The first
connected the national chairman
with the recognized national COM
mitteemen in the states. 10 whom
were sent the official calls for the
convention which assemblies next
week. The national committeeman
transmitted this call to the recog-
nized state chairmen, thus consu-
tuting the second link in the chain.
The third link connected the state
chairman with his organization In
the counties. Through the opera
ton of this mechanism, delegates
| friendly 10 Gen. Wood have been
| elected with entire regularity In
every southern state save two. The
function of the national committee
at this juncture is not TO determine
| qualifications of members of the na-
| tional convention; IL is merely TO
establish that regularity which en-
| titles a delegate TO be placed upon
the temporary roll. leaving the ulti-
mate question of his right 10 a seat
TO be determined by the convention
| through the committee on creden-
| tials.
Yet the national convention, with
Chairman Hays absent from the
chair. is assuming 20 decide the mat
ter in advance-but TO decide II
upon the narrow lines Of the COM
| mittee's personal preference.
Charges COlOred Decisions.
Gen. Woods friends have always
| understood that the national COM
| mittee, as at present constituted,
| favored the nomination OF Gov.
! Lowden. We have never questioned
| their right to hold such a prefer
| euCe. but we do question seriously
] and vigorously their right 10 color
\ their decisions, which should be
| merely ministerial. II not judicial,
! by such preference. and the condi-
| ions under which so many OF the
| present national committeeman hold
| their places only increases the
| strength with which we now assail
| the course which they are pursuing.
AS a result OF the primaries and
| conventions held throughout the
/ south, substantially one-third OF the
| members OF the present national
| committee have failed 70 get IN the
| confidence of their constituents, and
| they Will 90 out OF office the day the
4 convention adiOurns. Yet these re-
pudiated committeeman in defiance
| Of the popular judgment already
| rendered, are seeking 10 impose
their peevish purpose upon the con-
venuon, the party and the country.
| Certain facts are outstanding IN
| the compilation of pre-COnvention
events. Chief among these is the
| demonstrated fact that three men
| have shown themselves TO possess
| widespread and we'll founded popu-
lar support among republicans.
These men in the order OF their
demonstrated strength are Gen.
| Wood, Sen. Johnson and Mr.. Hoover.
| Except in his own state, Gov Low
/ den has never succeeded IN running
| better than a poor third in any pri-
| mary This is not said in any de-
| rOgation of any OF Gov Lowden's
| many good qualities II is a plain
statement Of political fact 20 which
| the country is not impervlous even
| though the national committee is
High Handed Methods.
| There seems 10 be no secrecy
about national committees plans.
They think by their high handed
| ~ ethods 70 remove from the Wood
| column a sufficient number OF votes
20 the Lowden column 10 eqUalize
| the apparent strength Of these two
/ rivals on the first ballot. one hest
| tates 70 revive the harsh language
! OF 1912, but there is only one word
| which can fifty characterize such
! procedure. and I refer inquisitive
! persons 20 the vocabulary OF eight
/ years ago 20 learn what that word is
| Twice before in republic history
/ have similar tactics been employed.
! In 1892. at Minneapolis. no atten-
/ tiOn was paid 20 the merits OF any
/ contest and delegates were seated
/ solely upon the basis OF the common
/ preference which they had with the
i national cOmmitte emen who award
/ ed them their seats. Twenty wears
! later similar tactics were pursued in
/ ChicagO-and student o. political
! history may find something worthy
OF reflection II ne VIII scan the
| election returns lu those two gears
| 50 fatal 20 republican hopes. II is
true that The committee sits N the