Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-05-13
Bauoting in state Conventions.

BaLOtip9 iH State Conventions.
State Conventions called on the usual
basis ol representation, arc pretty re
spectacle mass meetings, and how to Get
fair expression OF the delegates when
ballotingS are reSoricd to, is an impor.
tant question. II consume much time to
read q list Of the delegates, and much
more time TO vote by the liSt-which is
the only tue way of guarding against
fraud To sVbdiyidc the convention into
Counties, and TO vote by the authenticat-
ell lit OF delegates is the only practical
solution Of the difficulty We were In
tending 70 set forth the reasons for thi>.
when the following article fromthe Rircr-
SIDE Echo. came to hand and expresses
our views so well that we adopt it, and
give it entire
can honest ballot in conventions. for
the nomination of candidates especially
of dominant parties-is matter ot no
small Importance 10 the people. We sur
round our ballot boxes with every prac-
ticablc guard asain,t dishonest and illegal
voting. while they are only used 20 ratily
the nominations made in conventions
where the most ordinary precautions
against imposition and fraud are utterly
diSrcgardcd!
Minority parties, to be sure offer little
temptation in their conventions Tor maud
ulcnt proceedings; but that offered by
dominant parties to dishoRorable aspi-
rants. or their INSCRIPTIONS friends, in.
Crcases with the majority which the party
organization guarantees to its nominees.
1t may be urged that fraudulent voting
at elections is generally done by the mos,
abandoned classes of our population
from among whom. in thiS State 1T least,
delegates 10 state Conventions are not
generally selected. But il must be re-
ncGbcred that these classes have little Ia
tempt them To ri,k the penalties tor ille-
gal voting. aside from the consideration
offered by active and INSCRIPTIONS polili-
cians--vcry many OF whom are on hand
at State conventions. Il is not unrcason.
able then 20 demand in the interest of the
public that the ballot for candidates III
political conventions SHOULD be surround
cd with all ncejful precautions against
improper voting. whether fraudulent o.
accidental
Such Is VIGOROUSLY not the case Take
Ly way Of illustration the last Republican
State Convention Certain regulations,
As 70 filing vacancies in delegations
were announced prior to the Convention
by the STATE Committee-aN well enough
but left, Ike our Prohibitory liquor laws,
TO enforce themselves There was moth.
ing in any action on the part Of the Con
vention or the committee 10 receive the
votes 10 prevent any delegate from voting
an indefinite number Of times, or all the
roughs OF Bangor from putting into prac-
tice with IMMUNITY whatever ballot-box.
s,ufiing propensities they may have been
afflicted with.
We are not aware Unreasonable proof
has been offered that these opportunitie,
for wholesale fraud at Bangor were used
TO affect the choice OF the convention; MOI
DO we know that the repeated assertions
that such was the ease. have ever beer
denied. However this may be, future
conventions should adopt and enforce
such regulations. IS to preclude all OPP
portuni,y for fraud.
This can easily be done; indeed the
method is suggested. by the course gen.
orally adopted, by conventions, in the
choice Of members of the Committee OF
Resolutions and OF the State Committee
For these purposes the Convention di
yidcs itself into, what might be calico
County Conventions; :" the chairmen o
these County Conventions; :" subsequent
~ reporting 10 the convention the choice
of the county delegations for their repre-
senta!iveS on these committees.
The convention might be similarly iii
vided in order to ballot for candidai,
Cor Governor Each county delegation
should conduct the b2lloting within ii:
own ranks under the supervision OF ;
comm ttee. selected by itself, which >houl,
be instructed to receive TO vote unless
reasonably satisfied thai it was offered by
person entitled TO vote by the rules o
the convention. The vote of each coun
" should be reported by the committee
to the delegation, and, when called upoi
Tor that purpose. by its chairman TO tn
convention.
Some su h method would reduce 10 tn