The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-05-13
POLITICAL REFORM.
A New Plan Of making Nominate Ms, EN-
bracing the advantage Of both the Dele
gate and Popular vots System.


nored all connection with political matters
and it is left to demagogGes, sucn as nave
held the principal offices in the country du-
ring the past ten years. The great railroad
and other combinations employ the best
talent in the country, while but q casual
glance at our legislative assemblies tell too
plainly the deseneracy of politics As
natural consequence, the vital interests of
the country have suffered. and nearly every
constitutional barrier has been broken down
Ehe people see their liberties are endanger
ed, and are looking about themselves for
some feasible way of reform. What seems
TO meet with mos, favor dst now among ali
parties, is the new system of proportional
representation" msuamed minority repre-
sentstion by the embody ment OF wisdom
now assembled at Springfield, tinkerinN up
new Constitution, which assembly, labor
ing under the terrible belief that it is the
only Convention that viii ever assemoie Is
trying not only TO make q CopsfItu'ion' o"''
as we'll. frame all the laws 70 be naue u"oef
!. and by it. course paving the way tor the
defeat of its entire WORK.
While proportional representation" is
being discussed favorsbly the subject OF
nominations is being considered by both OF
the great parties of the day. The abuses
which have been growing up for years under |
the present mode OF caucns nominations.
especially in counties where nominstion is
Al. Il !
in which large towns and cities are situated
thus increasing the oppor tunities for fraud,
has of late turned the public mind to the
consideration Of the best remedy for an
acknowledged existing evil The true object
of a nomination is TO select the choice, as
near SIS practicable, Of the majority of the
voters Of the party as candidate yet it is
notorious that by packing conventions
through ward and township meetings where
only few attend, By the manipulations Of
delegates by the springing of ne,c candi- |
dates for the occasion, and too often BY the /
INSCRIPTIONS use of money, that the will OF
the mass Of the party is set aside, and can
didates every way unfit for the Office put |
upon the ticket.
The usual remedy of boiling can afford /
only temporary relief, because as soon as
the opposite party obtains tired majority
by such defections, experience demonstrates
that il will forthwith adopt for its own pur
poses the very same obnoxious machinery IN
nominations. The srae corrective lies i'll the ,
majority party adopting such G mode Of
nomination rs will purge itself OF corruption,
By enabling the honest meR within its own :
organization to control The selection of can il
didates, and at the same time approximate
to the fullest expression Of the will Of the P
mass OF the voters of the party. a
The majority party in many countries in
other states, have already adopted new J
methods Ct nominations with great success,
and perhaps, in view Of the fact that Rock
Island county to-day. has clear democrat
ic majority when every vote is polled, as is
shown by he results OF our last Township >
elections, it may be well for democrats to be |;
considering some method OF reform in nom !.
nations. This is important, for with good /
men nominated with the choice of the PEG
pie for candidate, We are morally certain OF !
victory. Much dissatisfaction has arisen Il
under the working OF the present delegate J..
system. and it is objected that direct popu Al
lar vote will give too great advantage to the VI
city over the townships OF the county. where ~
the attendance is generally small at primary p'
elections. 4 combination Of the delegate y,
and popular vote syatem, is now being "
tsvorably considered, which. while it retains di
for each ward and township its delegate p
strength in making nominations, allows each
voter TO vote directly for the candidate OF 90
his choice. and have his vote counted TOR his
nomination without il being traded off under :
the present delegate system.
We give below a method of nomination
or the consideration OF those interested in this
ubect:
!. Let the Democratic County Central Com !
nlEtee apportIon usual the delegates to =
he respective wards aud townships IN the A
alto OF one delegate for every fifty votes, II
ud one additional delegate Tor eve.y frsc- :,
ION OF twenty i've votes aud over cast for
IOVcTu0r At tho last election. W
:. On the day appointed tor the primary te
meetings. IN each ward and township, after q
ne Judges and clerk are chosen, let a printed
icket be prepared with the names of all the
andidates for the different Offices to be
properly designated, be distrib
tied so that each Democratic eiector can
cratch his ticket to suit himself, and so
7Ote directly for the candidate he wants
dominated. At the close of the poll, let the
Tote be properly counted and certified by the
I'D ges In the same manner at a regular
election, and q sealed up copy OF the same
's delivered by one of the judges of election,
= soon thereafter az possible, not exceed
ng two DAYS, to the chairman of the Demo
ratio County Central Committee
Sd At the time of the election aforesaid,
Z each ward ami township, let two delegates |
to cast the fui Democratic vote
II the ward or township, be elected to the
Democratic County Convention, for the pGr
'ose OF selecting delegates to the State
appointing IL central committee
nd seeing that the vote at the primary 1
lections is properly counted by the chair
1aa of the Democratic County Central Com
littee, and the result Of the uominatioD
announced.
4th. On the organization of the county
the chairman and secretary of :
be Democratic County Central Commute,
hall proceed in their presence to open and
cunt the votes returned by the judges OF
lections. and ascertain the result BY the
Glowing rules - !
/. Divide the number of votes in each
gard and township by the number of dele
tates to which said ward or township Is en-
Tiled under the superintendent, in order to
ascertain the number of votes requisite to
count as one delegate vote or a fraction
thereof
:. Having thus obtained the ratio for a
delegate vote, or a fraction thereof in ca oh
ward and townahlp. proceed 10 anno..ia. "a