Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1857-09-12
THE DELEGATE SYSTEM AND THE PRE-.
SENT SYSTEM, COMPARED.

THE DELEGATE SYSTEM AND THE PRE-
SENT SYSTEM, COsIPARED. l,
Our peighbor of the Gazette seems to think
IL strange that we should find fault with the
manner or systefeAow proposed in nomina-
ting candidates, cpd can't see how the present
system concentrates all power in the hands
of few wire.workers in this place." Ac-
cording to the old adage there are none so
blind as those who do not wish to see. It is
no difficult matter for an organized combina-
ton bent upon making division Of the spois
their object, nnder the present system. Sup
pose, for instance, that the six most important
Offices in the county should be tied in the
diserent parts of the county, so as to give
each controlling influences Thus, if each
Of the six candidates could,control on an
average two hundred votes, and unite their
strength upon each other, the aggregate
would amount to 1900. Now as the whole
vote Of the county, at the late primary election,
amounted to 1900, it will be seen that the
six candidates referred to would secure their
nominations by contributing 200 votes each,
and splicing the same together, the aggregate
being l,200, or majority Of the whole num-
Der Of votes polled. 1t may be said that no
combination could calculate so closely, and
that some would dodge or evade the agree
ment. This may be so, but if we allot to
each candidate say four hundred, or double
the amount, to guard against oil contingen-
cies, it would still go to show that man
"insde the ring" with only 400 votes could
receive the nomination, by uniting his forces
with the other candidates, although he might
not, single handed and alone, get six hundred
votes in the county, or not half enough to
elect him. Another mode to defeat candi-
date "outside the ring" if 100 strong, is to
multiply candidates and divide his strength.
Thus, for instaDge, there may be six candi-
dates for the same Office, and if the votes are
pretty equally divided, 800 would secure q
nomination, whereas the successful candidate
if be were to contend even handed will,
either of the other FIVE. might prove the leas,
popular candidate 10 the field.
We know that it is difficult to devise @
perfect system of any kind, but there can bs
. no question that the delegate system fairly
conducted, would much better represent The
) whole people, as no one would be nominated
without majority of oil the delegates. On,
, candidate may come into convention with, sa,
: l6 delegates out Of 30. The other "a may b,
divided among three other candidates. Now i
may so happen that the candidate with tn,
l6 delegates is the least popular and leas
worthy of them all, and when the contest i
narrowed down it may be found that either o
the three lowest would be preferred by tn
convention. This is not the case with tn
present system. If dozen candidates wer
in the field for the same Office, strong vot
of one or two townships, united on one can
didate, might secure his nomination, thoug
he could not secure one hundred votes besides
= 1t is all CANNON for our neghbor to tai
about the satisfaction, the peace and harmon
0 of the present system. There is no peace
The dissatisfaction is deep rooted and genera
and he must be blind indeed, who does no
q see it.
1t is all in vain for any man, however goot
to attempt to secure what is called Demo
cratic nomination against the wishes Of tn
n Inquisiton. Unless he is inside the ring
> he need not look for any favors ut the letting
d or for any share allotted by the grand deed {
partition.