Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-07-23
Needed Reforms.

NeCded REFORMS.
In a we'll written article in the Lewis
ton Journal, y. j. p speaks OF certain
irregularities and customs which have
erept into the Republican Conventions OF
this State, that need correction TO retain
the confidence of the people in the IN
tegrity of the party. We have had 1t in
our mind to write il tie same vein, and
fully endorse ali tina. the writer has said,
He makes three points, 10 Wit that
the custom OF filling uP city and town
delegations with men not chosen by the
people they protes5 10 represent Is
practise liable 10 ablSe-that the attempt
10 control cOnyenticgS by manufactured
sentiments, such as boiSJerouS cheering,
discordant yellS, &c, Is pernieious-'hd
that too much loosencSS is practiced in
the mode adopted in balloting Tor can
didatcS. Practices which are liable to
error and perversiOn. should be dispensed
with. We are aware that the argument
in favor OF nonresident representation l.
3 plausible one, and Is based upon
concession 10 remote and small towns
and plantations which could not be
represented, generally, unless by this
mod but the practice is open to such
abuses, we think such places had better
be unrepreSented than TO have mere
nominal representation in which they
have no particular interest,
Representative bodies are created for
convenience, because the masses cannot
transact their affairs, en- HtaSSe, 50
satisfactorily - in smaller aSssmblageS,
but rcprcS, nt1,ive bodies may be so large
a. 10 be unwirldy-they became mere
mass meeting, when too large, and
dehheration and cool judgment cannot be
enjoyed in them. The basis Of repre-
SeniatiOn upon which our state COnyen-
tions have been called for several years,
making convention of about twelve
hundred delegates. i TOO large for prac
teal purposes Such Conventions will
do very well when a candidate is to be
re- nominated. a. n matter of course. but
not when a new man is to be selected.
We would not have ourconventonS com
posed OF over six hundred. If it is urged
that on a basis making convention OF
this number, small towns would have an
undue influence in proportion TO their
vote and population, We reply thar this
would be moro than counteractcd By the
nOn.reprt seutalion which would occur.
owing 10 remotenesS from place of hold
inc the conv ention, while the cities and
large places would he represented fully.
Large Conventions are unwieldy. The
influence Of outsiders, mingling promiS-
euously with the members, Is oitentimes
greater than that of the delegates them
selves. because more boiSterouS and made
for effect The old plan OF assigning
seats in the hall 70 different Counties. and
keeping county delegations together,
which is not prlcticed in late yeaIs-was
a good one, aS the tendency was to keep
outsiders in other parts of the hall. Then
In large conventions. where the list of
delegates Is so large that time cannot be
Afforded TO have the list read. the dele
gate character Of the convention is lost.
No one knows VIII the delegates are,
and the conventioE is simply mass
convention, in which the localit can
manufacture an immerSe amount of
sentiment " bich las al ne weigh and
more than that. of the representative sen
timent OF the party. Then as t. the
balloting for candidates Unless this is
done with some system, 50 As TO give
fair expression to the delegated authority
of the convention, il is merely farce.
aud can have no binding force. In large
conventions there is but one fair way 10
ballot. and that is. by Counties, each
delegate voting as his name is called.
The Caucus and Convention system,
fairly worked, is the best that can be
devised. to meet all exigeneies-but it
must be tairly worked, or the ends sought
to be attained. the concentration OF the
people in the elections, will befruStrated.