Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1924-04-29
HUNTySa
WASHINGTON fSIiiiiY
LETT ER =
BY HARRY B. HUNT
BY HARRY 3. HUNT
NEAServic e Writer

NEAServic e Writer
] WASHINGTON, April 20. -
George B. Lockwood, roly-poly re-
publican, feels full of fight.
But in his double-headed Job as
secretary of the Republican Ma
tional Committee and editor of the
National Republican," heretofore
regarded as the Official organ" Of
the Republican party, Georges
freedom of action has been ham-p-
cred.
True, he has been free to fight
the democrats. But it is not
democrats whom George most de-
sires to lambaste. 1t is individuals
inside the republican party, who he
feels are not behaving like repub-
licans, that cause his fists to clench
and his pulse to thump with the
desire for battle.
Wherefore, disregarding the pos
sible result on his chances for re-
election as secretary Of the national
committee, George announces that
now hereafter the national Re
publican" is not be considered as
''the mouthpiece IF the Republican
national organization or the organ
of the Republican National Com
mittee."
Having thus absolved his party
of responsibility for any of the
things the National Republican"
may print, Lockwood is set to take
a good poke at any individual or
candidate who may sponsor any of
the liberal or radical" programs
opposed by the conservative" ele-
ment in the party; government
Ownership, for instance.
His first assault will be against
the stronghold of Senator LaFol-
lette.
From the Lockwood viewpoint,
LaoFllette and his followers are
band of pirates who, unless repuls-
ed, will seize the party ship, force
captain and crew to walk the plank,
and then sail brazenly into port
with the G. 0. P. banner still at
1.-THE masthead.
Better scuttle the old ship and
go down with bands playing than
permit it to fall into such hands,
George declares.
On this issue, LaFollette is ready
to give battle.
| If there is one thing LaFollette
has guarded more zealously than
his progressive principles, it is his
fright to wear the label "Republi-
can." He has carefully observed
every requirement for party regu-
larity If any group is masquerad-
ing under false colors, he will con-
tend, it is the Old Guard crowd
which he insists has forsaken Re-
publican fundamentals.
If LaFollette leads a third party
tout of the convention at Cleveland,
for instance, he will claim-as
| Roosevelt did in 1912-that his fol
lowing is the real Republican party
land that the party dominating the
convention is the wolf in sleeps
clothing.
Beyond the direct set-to with La
Toilette and his probable Progress
slve Republican" following, Lock
wood will give battle to every aspi-
rant for the house or senate who.
as a progressive or otherwise, seeks
election on the Republican ticket
who does not, in the judgment of
| Lockwood and his advisers, meas
ure up to their idea of what a re-
publican should be.
The time has come" he says
when individuals who have been
using the republican party as
path to power, only to betray it
when in office, must cease to be
taken for granted. Only by such re-
sistance can the Republican party
be saved" That Lockwood's de-
cision may help materially in bring
ling a wide-open split in the party
he himself recognizes. But, he says:
Better no Republican party than
one which does not stand for some
thing. Better no party than one
which will not fight for its life"