The Portland daily press., 1874-08-03
Caucus Reform.


are now considering the caucus system with
view to some measures of reform which
will make the so called primary meetings,
better exponent of the wishes of the majority
in the selection of candidates. We do not
learn that Gen. Butler or any of his lleuten-
ants are taking any share in this commenda-
BILE work.
The Republican city committee of Salem
after considering the subject have agreed up
on plan which seems so satisfactory to them
that they propose to give it trial. The plan
proposes that meetings for the choice of can
didates, delegates and committees, shall be
called by the city committee and shall be con-
Quoted as elections of state and municipal Of
ficers are by law. A warden, clerk and two
inspectors appointed by the ward committee
preside at the ballot box, the check list is to
be'used, and none but Republicans allowed
to vote. All nominations and selections of
delegates and committees are to be made by
ballot, and the persons receiving the largest
number of votes shall be declared elected.
We must confess that there is nothing OF a
startling character in the proposed plan of
DR.. Loring. The changes proposed are SO
called caucus reform. OF course the warden,
clerk and inspectors will be appointed by the
city committee, which in many instances
would result in placing the control of the pri-
maries in the hands Of certain managers, the
result of which may be easily learned by re-
calling the action of the Republican commit
tee of Boston under the leadership of Gen.
Buffers Mr.. Simmons last year.
The Worcester Spy is led by the an
nouncement of the Salem plan, to discuss the
caucus question at length. 1t points out the
fact that it generally happens that but few
men are interested in the matter of making
nominations, and these are always present
and control the primary meetings in their
own interest. The prominence of the sspro-
tessionaP' in making combinations, .devoting
months of time and employing an amount of
cheek and persistence which the better class
of men have too much self-respect to employ,
has largely brought the caucus system into
bad repute. The Spy thinks that the real
trouble with our caucus system is that it is
voluntary and not recognized by law. In con-
sequence of this, it has fallen into the hands
OF cliques, etc., and the bulk of voters will
have nothing to do with it. Consequent
ly the Spy proposes the novel remedy of hay
ing the primary elections provided by law and
conducted by public officers. "Let it be pro.
vided," says the Spy, sthat certain time,
say month, before each election, polls shall
be opened in each town and ward, that pub
lie officers shall preside, having separate
ballot-box and separate checklist for each
party, that the polls shall be opened fixed
number of hours, two for instance, each day
for certain number of days-three DAYS
would perhaps be enough, though week
would be better-and the state of the poll at
the end of each day should be announced be-
fore the time of voting on the following day."
The editor Of the Spy, gentleman of
large experience and information in political
affairs, thinks that the adoption of this plan
would "give every man his just share of in
fuence in nominating the candidates of his
party, with so many opportunities OF voting
that no mans engagements of business need
keep him away from the polls" At any rate
the question is one which, in view of the re-
suits of the present system, is worthy of the
fullest discussion. and any measure which
will succeed in securing the cooperation of
the best classes in making nominations, and
in breaking up the dangerous tendencies of
the old caucus system, will be hailed with
satisfaction by all good men.
In the meantime, and until better system
is devised and put into operation, the only
wise and safe course is for all good men to 90
to caucus and take part in its action. They
should regard this as a duty they owe to the
public. The caucus, too, should be some
thing more than basty meeting to name
delegates or candidates. 1t should be meet
ing of the individuals of party to discuss
the qualifications of the respective candi-
dates, and to question their supporters as
to their future action ON any important
matter. Indeed, the primary meeting
should be considered more important
than the legal election which follows; and
when the great mass of intelligent voters
come to this conclusion and act accordingly,
by the use Of party check list, the abuses
which grow out of the caucus system will be