The Delta independent., 1924-12-26
WHAT CONSTITUTES
A REPUBLICAN


Washington, D. C.-The action of
"a out of 81 Republican senators de-
claring that Senators LaFollette,
Ladd, Brookhart, and Frazier, all of
whom were conspicuous in the third
party movement or otherwise hostile
to Coolidge, be not invited to future
Republican conferences, and be not
named to fill any vacancies on SEN
ate committees" has caused comment
of various kinds according to the po-
litical leanings of the commentators.
The effect of the action has been
exaggerated by those who desire to
cause trouble in the party. The 81
Republicans who attended the con-
ference Is more than one-half of the
total Republican membership simply
expressed the opinion that the four
senators who were elected as Re-
publicans but who acted in the
should no longer be invited to Re-
publican conferences or be named to
fill vacancies on committees AS RE.
PUBLICANS.
1t Is argued by some that the "a
Republican senators had no right to
pass upon the qualifications of SEN
ators. The "a Republicans did not so
act; they simply passed upon their
qualifications as REPUBLICANS per-
mitted to take part in REPUBLICAN
conferences. Surely a majority of
the Republican senators have per-
feet right to say who shall not and
who shall take part in Republican
conferences. In all organizations, po-
litical, religious, and social, no per-
son has a right to participate who
refuses to subscribe to the essential
beliefs and principles of the ma
jority.
This is not passing on the quail
fications of one as a senator but up.
on the qualifications of one as a
REPUBLICAN. The creed of the
party, or a majority thereof, was laid
down in the last national platform.
One who refuses to subscribe to the
essential principles laid down in that
pldllOl III mas lO llbill W pal LlGiDdlt
in the deliberations of the party,
when it comes to carrying out pro-
gram for legislation. AS well might
a Baptist or a Unitarian insist upon
taking part in the denominational ac
tivites of the Presbyterian or Epis
copal church.
The only other question settled by
the "a Republican senators was that
the four Progressive third party
senators "be not named to fill vacan
cies on Senate committees" This is
ON the theory that the Republicans
have a majority in the Senate, and
thus have the right to name the ma
iority members of the committees.
Without that majority, of course,
such a resolution amounts to moth.
ing. With a majority, it is effective
and final
The only other question involved is
this: What constitutes a Republican? ?
1t must be acknowledged that this Is
a government by parties 1t must be
a government of party responsibility
II it is to function. A Republican
is one who subscribes to the essen.
tial principles agreed to by a major.
ity membership Of that party. These
essential principles are well known
'and they were given vitality and au
thority in the last national conven
tion and in the election, wherein a
Republican President, Vice President
and a Republican Senate and House
were elected. If those principles are
to be put into force, the party stand
ing thereon must limit to the party
councils those who subscribe to them
No matter how much senator may
disagree with some of the principles
adopted, he must work within the
party for the reforms he thinks TINT
are necessary; and If defeated by the
majority must either yield to the
majority or refuse to participate in
the party councils. II he persists In
remaining within the party ranks and
in taking part in the party delibera
tions after majority has decided
against him. the only thing left is to
refuse the offender admission into
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