The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-01-22

PORTLAND.
Wednesday Morning, January %, 1868.
Nominating Conventions.

Nominating Conventions.
The general dissatisfaction with the politi-
cal machinery by which the Democratic par
ty was so long controlled and at last ruined.
finds expression from tisle to time in new
plans tor fixing the responsibility for nomina-
tions upon the persons who really control
them. The Republican party has indeed dis
covered remedy for bad nominations, and
until something better is proposed will do
well to keep it in reserve. But il is rude
remedy nevertheless, enforcing the lesson
of political rectitude in the same rough
fashion in which our periodical financial cri-
ses teach the lesson of prudence and econ
omy, by widespread ruin and disaster. If in
some way we could secure good nominations
and avoid the occasional necessity for bolting
or threatening to bot, it would be great
saving OF political power. f3.4s 2 1ksa 'itI
The latest proposition for this end is Mr.
Sidney G. Fishers, and appears in the last
number of the North American Review. Mr..
Fishers plan is to provide by law for the
election of board of nomnors, whose duty
it shall be to receive and consider all appca-
tions for offices whose incumbents are chosen
by the popular vote, and from them to select
a number of candidates to be presented to the
people for their suffrsges. The qualifications
OF the nominors are to be defined by the law,
and should be such as to secure competent
and unbiased judgment of the merits of
candidates brought before them, and adequate
penalties should be provided to prevent
bribery and fraud. The design Of the law is
simply to bring out into the light and hold
strictly responsible the men who discharge
an important duty to which somebody must
attend, and which is now. done in back par
lors by people Of whom the public knows
nothing.
Perhaps the millennium win see this plan in
full operation, and committee of. wise and
virtuous citizens win then inquire into the
character and capacity OF all capdidates for
popular election. Andrew Johnson win then
fail to get nomination for alderman OF his
native village; Fernando Wood will no
longer think Of becoming Mayor OF New
York; the Hon. John Morrssey win return
to his familiar sports upon ''the green" aud
in general the wicked will cease from troub-
ling and the weary good people viii improve
the opportunity to take a little natural rest.
In that day we shall hear nothing of local
claims. or party claims. 1t will not be sup
posed because man has fast horse and ON
election day brings the lame, the halt, the
blind and the drunken to the polls, and makes
them all vote the regular ticket, that he is
therefore the very man for town representa-
tive. 1t will make no difference at which end
OF his district a man lives; it he is good
man for the vacant Office, the nomination is
his without question. We are getting a
little reckless about what are called local
claims OF late years, but in that good time
Coming We shall forget that there ever were
such claims, and the best man will win
whether he lives in the northeast or the
southeast corner OF the sacred precinct.
Meanwhile we shall probably get along in
the old way for some years to come. If Mr..
Fishers law were passed, the nominors would
soon come to be voted for as the Presidential
electors are now chosen-not for their own
merits. but for the can lidates whom they
would be understood to represent. it is as
hard to prevent the influence OF active, in
telligent and persistent men from being felt
in political organization as in railroad
company, a debating soeiety,a cricket club,
or church. 1t is like trying to cover fire
with cotton cloth; smother it in one spot and
it breaks out in another. Perhaps it may be
done, but the prospect is certainly dubious,
and meanwhile the nominating conventions
are the only means at hand for securing unity
of action. Me:i who think alike should vote
alike-when they can. The regular nomina-
tions are entitled to be treated fairly; it is
coming to be understood also that the public
expects fair treatment at the hands OF the
conventions. s % 0i7al --aa .-