Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-11-05
tFnm the Toledo Blade.)
THE CAUCUS SYSTEM.

Now that the election In Ohio l. over We may.
wiihaut prejudice 10 any interests ~ our party
~ nur country. make a FEW srrFEesti"ns M "
changes that, IN our j,tdgeinynt. are necessary
% the the future success sud influence OF the
Republican party, especially In counties aud
districts where its fnaiufities are large ana hs
influence controlling.
II il no, ta be dcnicd that nm earnest feeling
of repugnancc Is felt BY many Intelligent mcn
IN the manner In which nominations are made
for county Offices. The system of primary
meetings and county and district conventions,
though ever 80 fairly conducted, Is liable IN
many suspicious, aud the fact that selfish men
may easily abuse It's privileges, deprive i Of
the confidence with which party proceeding
should be regarded.
The ward aud township meetings are usually
held al night, when cautious and inrm citizens
do moi like to be abroad. The devices Of man
aging men are snch, often, that many quiet men
fall vi having their due influence at such meet.
ings Men who are uot public speakers do not
like lo wranplc with those who are rs to the
best way tn do business. The caucus system
allows those specially interested IN any partic,,
uiar candidate to come Uut in strength, anh
have their own way, while their clloice many
t,nca fails TO rcptcscnt the inind Of the ina j0rty
OF the parry. However wise. Ms general rule,
enucus nominations may be. II is not tn be de-
nicd that the better p1ttiou NJ both parties earn
cslly desire the adoption Of more excellent
way.
The popular vote system has been adopted by
the Drmoc attic patty in many counties ~ which
its choice Is equivalent t0 mn election. Aud In
every county aud district 10 which II has been
IN operation for q number 1f years the effect has
been 10 strengthen the vote Of that party,
procla nation il issued by the County Executive
Committee, appointing u day for the election 10
the various clcctinnprccincts, AMI prescribing
the hnurs at which the polls shall be opened
II - l.taI nuN TnmnlnfllnH. -
As rule, In the country, the poll may be open
ed for township say at one o'clock In the alter
NOON and continue open until seven or eight
O'Clock In the evening. quiet voter To whom
the chickering's Of caucus are distAsteinl, or
who from any cause will mt or cann't atten
one, can find no objection to calling moment
at the appuinted place aud depusiting his ballot
for the candidate he prefers 10 represent his
marty. II takes hut momcrt ur time, and ey.
ery citizen has his full influence in the hnal
count with every other. The loud mnuthei
dispuior has no advantage over the man Oi lew
words the drxtrOus parliamcntHrinn can take
no advantage over his unskillcd aud unsuspect-
ING nciphburs to defeat their will. There can
he no jnggling by means of committees pre- ar
ranged 80 us TO give unpopular and unit men
advantages they never can get ~ iair vote ny
the people Of the party. Every man who calls
nj such poll aud votes quietly Tor the men OF
his choice feels more attached ever after to the
method Of recording his yute for his preferences.
Whenever the popular ~vote system has been
fairly tested the party making it, county and
district nominations In that way has gained
largely.
The only objection that eau DO urged TO this
method IL that the plurality would be sufficient
for choice, and il might happen, where there
were many competitors the man happening to
get the plurnlty might fail to imminl the con =
hdenee Of the i0rity of the whole number.
We icply that 1t the wrist, TIA 5 me nj cot
not fail to represent the majority any more than
the caucus system. lfdecmed necessary, alter
due experiment. n second poll might be proyi-
dcd for TO choose between candidates having the
highest number of votes, in cases where the
frat trial had not made choice by adequate ma
iorities. This has been sometimes done
and no great Inconvenience has been foun4 70
result But where plurality is deemed sui
Hcicnt for choice, the selections have usually
been moro popular than those made by The eau
Gus system.
Men Of all parties desire honest and capable
men la executive offices. II lis matter Ia when
| their financial interests are involved. Men VINO
will not attend n caucus, will attend ap II long
! enough 10 deposit ballot. The expression III
| this way is fuller aud fairer than by the eau
! Gus system, and mnrc completely leaves every
man w,hnut excuse Cor neglect 10 express hi'
! preferences.
wo design now only to call attention to this
| subject We are firm In the conviction tina
! the Repnblican party would do well IN give
serious consideration to this natural method o
! increasing mutual confidence, and augment NJ
| the moral aud numerical strength at our pollti
! cal organization.