The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1871-07-15
Nonli,.oti,nn Conventions.

railroad ticket is valuable to the holder un-
til he reaches the point fer which be purchased
it. A stage coach is an excellent institution in
land destitute of locomotives. A tallow can
die gives good light in the absence of gas. The
old fashioned fail is very serviceable for thresh-
ing wheat in country were steam threshers
have not been introduced. Any policy of gov
eminent is good so long as it serves purpose
beneficial to the people. Any honorable means
administering that policy is justifable that
does not controvert its original intention and
sacrifice the interests of the people to the interest
of the politicians and place hunters. The legit-
innate use of that policy and means when subser-
Went to the welfare of society should be fostered
and supported. But the abuse of either should
furnish sufficient reason for abolishing either or
both aad substituting in their stead something
that will better serve the purposes for which they
were intended. Years ago the people instituted
the convention system Of controlling political af-
fairs for the purpose of securing the triumph of
certain principles of government which they ia
vored.
To secure the success of policies and principles
they advocated it was necessary to have strong
organization, to have thorough cooperation of
all the parties who were in favor of given pol
icy or principle. This was very well. 1t is
probably the only way that complete success
could be obtained. But the original intention
of the convention system has long since been de-
feated. From being an organization to reflect
and execute the will and voice of the people it
has become piece of convenient machinery for
the use of the political wire-workers and schem-
ing politicians. Its uses have been supplanted by
its abuses. A political convention is no longer
the reflection of the voice or the sentiments OF
the people, but the in unerring index to the wish
of the politicians who have made the strongest
combinations and most successfully developed
those combinations in the selection of the dele
gates that compose the convention.
The people used to make the delegates to the
conventions. But the politicians make them
now. The principles advocated by the people
used to be uppermost in the selection of delegates
to a convention Now the candidates to be nom-
mated for fat Offices are the most important things
connected with county conventions and primary
meetings. The men who are candidates for shsr-
if, treasurer, commissioners, clerk and other Of
fcers are the men who select the delegates to the
nominating conventions. And these delegates
are selected for the express purpose of securing
the nomination of those by whom they are Sc
lected The people are patronizingly invited to
90 to the primary meetings and elect the ticket
that has been studiously selected by a combina-
ton between Mr.. A., who is candidate for
sheriff and Mr.. B. who is a candidate for States
attorney, or by Mr.. c., who is prominent can
didate for county treasurer and Mr.. D., who is
a candidate for State Senate or county commits
siOuer.
The people do not have any choice of delegates.
They are debarred the privilege of selecting and
electing their own delegates. They have a choice
only as between selected delegations, as between
combinations that have beneath them nothing but
the political advancement of those by whom they
were connected. The time has arrived when
the abuses of this system OF making nominations
should be abolished by the emphatic demand Of
the people to abolish the system ITSELF Let the
Crawford system take its place.