Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-08-07
Political Primaries.

We copy the following from an article in
the So. Adams Messenger;
One Of the greatest essentials to the good
name, the discipline the purity and the por.
petuity Of political party is the proper
conduct of its primary meetings fos the
choice of candidates. Since thsrs-is no law
to govern a caucus, and can b none, it is
altogether an affair Of hoaass BY means Of
it the public good aan be promoted, by the
wise and concertelshction of good men, or
selfish interests aed personal ambitions can
be subdued. The value OF the caucus de.
ponds entirely upon the motives and priu.
ciples Of the few strong men who seek to use
it; if they are public spirited, h Is good
thing; if only selfish, it is at once farce
and fraud. A course which admits the
votes Of non voters or welcomes the inter.
ference Of men known to belong TO other
parties is fraud upon the mass of voters
outside of that precinct and utterly destruct.
i've Of political liberty within. 1t sets
dangerous example by overriding the bar.
riers and guards that always ought to sur.
round the ballot-box. 1t makes the inlet.
tered think that the whole of government is
only one gigantic game Of grab
1t is will known that in many of the west
ern states they have no caucuses candidates
nominate themselves, canvass the field in
competition and rely upon ability aud money
for success. This method has always fallen
fiat whenever attempted in the older and
more conservative communities Of the East
In Philadelphia caucus system has been
in vogue for some years which has given the
best expression Of the voters as to their
choice Of candidates of any ever devised,
but it has been objected to in other places
because it has been thought to be too un-
wieldy. The republican committee of Salem,
Mass, have recently recommended method
somewhat similar to that in Philadelphia
but easier Of adaptation, which is as follows
1. Meetings for making nominations aud
selecting delegates and committees of the
republican party in this city, shall be called
by the republican city committee, and shall
be conducted as meetings for the election of
state and municipal officers are conducted.
The checklists shall be used; all nomina-
tons and selections Of delegates and commit
tees shall be made by ballot aud the person
or persons receiving the largest number of
ballots shall constitute such delegations or
committees.
2. Previously TO the convention for the
nomination Of state or other officers, the city
committee shall notify the republicans Of
each ward to meet in some suitable place,
the there, during such an hour as the com.
mittee shall designate, deposit their ballots
for six republicans to constitute a ward
committee; aud the city committee shall
also notify the republicans Of the several
wards to meet at the same time, or at such
other time as they deem proper aud de-
post their ballots for delegates to such
other conventions as may occur during the
year.
3. The ward committee SO selected shall
together constitute city committee which
shall call all meetings and have the general
charge Of the interests Of the party.
4. Each ward committee shall select a
warden clerk and two inspectors, who shall
perform the same duties at meetings called
for selecting delegates or making nomina-
tions as are now performed by the same Of
6cers at state elections.
5. At meetings called for making nOmi-
nations, or selecting delegates or committees,
no person whose name is not on the check
list, and none but republicans, shall be al
lowed to vote. Any person whose right to
vote is challenged as a republican, shall be
questioned by the warden and inspectors,
aud the right to vote shall be determined by
them.
6. The ward rooms and polls shall be
open at hours fixed by the committee and at
such time in the day or evening as the ward
or city committee deems most convenient for
the members Of the party.