The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-09


The average vote for candidates for the four
positions named above at the primary election
of August, 1869, was IL ,204, and the vote at the
regular election next ensuing, as shown, Is, ,S04,
or slightly in excess of the average vote for six
years. This gives fraction over 81 per cent
of the Republican vote in October, 1869, and o
little less than Il per cent. of the highest Re-
publican vote ever polled in the county, as being
drawn out by the Crawford county system at
primary election in which there was no vita
national issue at stake. And for the
nomination for which there was
but a single aspirant the vote at the
primary election is seen to have fallen only 40S
behind the aggregate vote for the eleven aspi
rants for another nomination. Such result,
when compared with the beggarly proportion
brought out by the old system-never reaching
these figures and being usually not half as large
lis the most conclusive argument that can be
adduced in favor of adopting the new system,
the only argument that should be needed to in
duce the coming convention to adopt it. Under
the system now in vogue here, the great mass
of the party have but q slim chance for just
and impartial hearing, and this chance they set
but little value upon; under the Crawford
county system they have every chance to be
heard, and, as the result shows, they are accus-
toned 10 make the most of their opportunity.
The Chester County system.
In Chester county system Is in vogue which
accomplishes the objects aimed az by the Craw
ford county system, under certain conditions.
Bat one convention Is held, and each delegate
ia bound to follow the instructions of a majority
of his constituents. The voters at the primary
| elections write below the name OF their choice
| for delegate the name of their choics
| for each Office for which nomination is 10 be
| made count of these instructions Is made
| by the election officers, and the delegate, be-
| coming mere machine, casts his vote IN the
| convention on each nomination ip accordance
with the result. II he fails to comply with his
! instructions, he will scarcely have the hardihood
| to present himself again as a candidate for dele
gale. In case the constituencies of the delegates
| are equal or nearly so, or in case they are
| equaliZed 0y aregular apportlonment after each
annual election, this system of instruction
| practically answers the purpose OF the
| Crawford county system, and is an
| immense Improvement on that In vogue in
this city But il lacks the simplicity OF the
| Crawford county system and opeDs door to
| fraud through defiance OF instructions, which
| is impossible under the direct vote for candi-
dates. Moreover, il is possible, under its opera
! tions, for a candidate 10 be placed In notnina-
ton In defiance OF the wishes OF the majority.
Thus, suppose in a convention made up of 100
| delegates, 81 are instructed 10 vote for Jones
| for a certain nomination, and 40 TO vote for
Smith for the same position. Ii Smith Is almost
universally popular in half dozen so of the
40 districts which were carried by his delegates,
while Jones delegates we're elected by a fair
| majority only, IL will be seen that Smith Is in
justice entitled 20 the nomination carried off by
Jones. But, even with this drawback, and the
| additional one OF needless complication, the
system of instructing delegates, coupled with
an equalization of representation in the con-
ventioRs, would be great stride In the way OF
progress.