Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-07-13
Conventions-Duiy OF the People.

COuVentions-Duty OF the People.
notice that within the last week the Con-
gressional Committee have issued their call for
the appointment of Delegates to nominate a
candidate for Congress from this Congressional
District. was gratified that the call appeared
so long before the day named for the appoint
ment of the Delegates. 1t viii give the people,
through the counties, time to consider Of the
matter, 10 speak Of candidates and canvass their
merits and qualifications. This l hope they
will do.
There has never been time when we more
needed strong and true men in our National
Councils. There has never been time when
the people were more imPeriOusly required to
do their own business in the selection Of can
didate, and indeed in the selection Of candidates
for all offices, than now To bring to their no
tiee this important matter of the selection By
the people OF their own candidates, is the chiel
object Of this communication, which is intend
ed as well for the wards as the townships.
It's known to every one that wesOften have
candidates who are not acceptable to majority
of the party, though, being candidates, they arc
supported and elected. Every such candidate
inilres the ticket and weakens the party, by di-
minishing our confidence in the wisdom or in
tegrity OF those who control the party. This
can be prevented. But 1t can only be prevented
by the people themselves. If they neglect this
business, professional politicians viii always be
on hand ready TO attend to it for them, and
tickets will be manufactured and presented TO
them, .'without money and without price" In
/ fact it has been SO in this county for years
Those who have paid attention to this subject
| for the last few years, have noticed that the
whole machinery of our political organization
and ticket-making has been controlled by some
half dozen persons as principals, and a number
net much larger as assistants and wire opera
tors could name this half dozen, but it is not
necessary, as those who read the papers see
them every time they read the report OF the pro-
lsaedinGs of Convention. And those who have
knowledge of mining and counter-mmIng can
see their fingers when they are supposed to be
out OF sight
| The result is that so far as the control Of po-
litical organization and political machinery can
accomplish it, they control the nomination of
candidates for all the principal offices in the
County, and the appointment Of Delegates to
State Conventions. This Is so well understood
that candidates see the road 70 success not
through the ballOtbox Of an unpacked COnven-
ton. but they fud it in the aid and assistance
which these dispensers of political favors can
render to their friends and retainers.
| do not claim that these political hucksters
arc allraVs successful Sometimes their depend
ents are too numerous, so that owing TO divi-
sions among themselves, strangers to their or
gahization are sometimes successful But
refer to the general result and to the known
combination which exists in our party, which
all-outside of it-who have given any atten-
ton to politics, have noticed and deplored.
trust that attention having been called to
this subject, those who have the power to put
down this bastard oligarehy will see that It is
done.
There is special necessity for this at this
time. True, the State Convention is now be-
yond the reach of the people, the Delegates
having already been secured-most of them
from this county having been nominated in
Committee by themselves Bat the other Con-
ventions are yet to be held and though the long
arms and supple fingers of scheming politicians
are extended all through the county, the people
the disiRterested voters of the wards and
tOwnships-can, if they will, defeat their plans
and secure Delegates who will represent them
in the forthcoming conventions, and nominate
candidates for them.
Unless the evil to which 1 have referred is
soon arrested, conventions must give way to the
popular vote system. While there are some
objections to this, they secure fair expression
of the popular will in the selection OF eandi-
dates-ihe great object to be attained-by pre-
venting that management by means Of which
the popular will is often stifed.
JULY s, 1858. FAIR PLAY.