The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1952-01-31

ava
article, in the form of letter to
is as follows:
| Dear Sir:
Nothing could better illustrate
the general ineptitude of Repub-
lican leadership in the 18th Dis
trict, than the GriffithsKincaid
fiasco of the past week. Ex-con-
gresham Griffiths decided that
he wanted to run for congress.
Few were consulted, which was
his American right, but which
was to say the least poor politics.
The reaction at GAINESVILLE was
that Griffiths' decision was lese
majeste. He had not asked per-
mission of State Central Com
mitteeman, 1--WE forget his name)
or the Republican Club whether
or not he could run. So Griffiths
is to be punished for his effront-
cry by bringing out Kincaid. And
where does the GAINESVILLE crowd
get its license to select congress
ional candidates? AS we recall it.,
! Muskingum county two years
ago gave Secrest 10000 majority
over its own candidate-Holland
Gary-as good congressional tim
Der as the party has in this dis
trict.
Republican Muskingum has
regularly been going heavily for
Secrest. It would seem that un-
der the circumstances the Repub-
lican politicos up there might
have some idea of the eternal fit
ness of things, subside and give
some thought to electing a con-
gresham rather than hand pick
ing some one for the slaughter
as Gary was chosen.
We recall the time not long
since when GAINESVILLE was the
home of the best political lead
ers in Ohio-to name a few al
random, Frank Ransbottom, Pet
! er Black, "Wib" Ledman, Char
ley Walker, w. o. Littick-the
latter the real power behind the
throne for years in district poll
tics-but they are all dead. L
bappears from the stupid politics
emanating from that source II
the recent past that they left nc
successors.
If anyone has any right to picl
| a congressional candidate, i
would seem to be Morgan county
the only dependably Republican
county in the 18th district anc
the only one which Secrest can
not carry.
No one candidate, Griffiths
Kincaid or any other Republican
in the district, can beat Scores
alone. To win, such an opponen
of the formidable SenecaVlll'
man must have the active, no
passive support, of the Republl
| can papers of the district ID,
must have individual strength
and he must know politics, for h
will run on a form of balio
(which has no party emblem an'
which means in substance,
test of Individual popularity.
He must have aggressive ant
unified support of organized Re
publican leadership over all o
the district-and the money t
wage an effective campaign.
All of the above would seen
to be patent and self evident IL
the light of disaster after dlsaste
which has befallen every candi
! date who has opposed SecreSt TO
20 wears in every election witt
one exception-and that was II
1916.
It is not yet too late to call
district Republican meeting an'
agree upon a candidate for Con
gress. Personally this paper l
tired of playing the role of tn
tail wagging the dog-in othe
words trying to elect some he
; publican while the rest of tn
district goes hell-bent for Secres'
If GAINESVILLE expects to Civ
this district leadership, her pres
ent organization of Boy Scout
had better study the life an
works of Franklin Ransbottor
and the other Master Minds 4
politics, noted above.
WILBUR D. MATSON
Editor,
McConnelsville Herald