The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-07-24
BoLTERs AGAIN.

M0CRACY.
"And what a sorrowful sight,
When children of one family,
Fail out and have fight.
Nursery Rhyme
Last Monday, the day appointed by
the Democrats for their convention
6awned bright and clear. At early
morn the delegates began to assemble
from the highways and byways of the
county, to meet in solemn conclave for
che purpose of nominating persons for
the several offices to be filled this fall.
AT the hour appointed, the delegates
repaired to the Court House. Il. j..
Miller of the Democrat called the Con-
vention to order. Mr.. Hoffman of
Milestone, was elected temporary chair
man, and i. III. Garner Of st. Mary's,
secretary. The credentials of delegates
were then received, and all went well
until it was discovered that two..sets of
delegates presented credentials from
Jones township. From this time har-
mony was destroyed, aud the friends of
the rival candidates for Treasurer. each
strove for the mastery. The members
of the right pitted themselves against
the members of the left, and there was
fierce contention in the camp. From
the first it was evident that each party
was determined to nominate their man,
and the sequel illustrates the effects of a
"rule or ruin" policy that sometimes
make such disgrace of political con-
ventionttons. The matter OF the dele
gates from Jones was finally settled by
allowing one from each party. But,
now another obstruction is placed in the
way of the harmony of the convention,
in the shape Of a delegate from Bene-
zette, who wanted to represent himself
and another man at the same time,
without authority from the other man
he claimed to represent. At this juno
ture the orators of the right and the
orators of the left, commenced talking
at the same time, and with many loud
CALCULATIONS, and high words, the mem
bers of the right tried to convince the
member of the left that they were right.
At the same time the men bers of the
left, tried, in unimpassioned eloquence,
to convince the right that their views
were the correct ones. Then al! hands
commenced talking, and soon. the cou-
vention was in an uproar, and confusion,
such as Babel knew not of, reigned su-
preme. Each side declared itself right
and the other wrong. Thus the meet
ing was broken up and no nominations
made, and now have the delegates re-
turned to their constituency, to tell a
tale of woe, and convince them that
that they (the delegates) have doue
their duty.
Aside from the regular proceedings
of the convention, we heard it re-
marked, by men from St. Mary's that
they had voters sufficient to carry their
man against the rest of the county, and
that they were bound to elect him at
any rate. Now, tie spirt shown in
these threats is far from being a judi
cious one, and not only SO, but is dan
gerous to the welfare and stability Of
our county. 1t evinces determination
to carry through a candidate, whether
he be competent or mot, simply because
they think they have the power. How
ever, we have nothing to do with the
threats of members Of the convention,
and aside from them we believe that
politics should not constitute the main
element by which a man is made elegi5le
for office, and especially IN county Offices
shouldtpolitics be thrown aside, and the
test of competency tor the position, ap-
piled instead, This plan would IN
doubtedly result in better management
of our county matters, and at the same
time put men in, position who would
honor the places they We're elected to
occupy.