Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-07-08
LETTER FROM CHARLESTOWM
POLITICALLY
NOMINATING CONVENTIONS.

several candidates. But when dozen
men want the same office, and have
been electioneering for month, /. sell
dom happens that either one Of them IS
the first choice of a majority and it is
the duty of the convention 10 ascertain
which man is the second or third choice
of the greatest number.
To illustrate this: Charles, Shepherd,
Lee, and half dozen others have been
mentioned for Sheriff but the friends
of all these gentlemen unite in the de-
sire to beat Mr.. Radical hence, they
90 into convention for the express pur-
pose of shutting out, dropping, exclud-
ing from the contest the weaker candl-
dates This is necessary TO prevent =
spill. in the party. A fair and honest
convention will weigh and measure
these candidates one against the other
and pick out the strongest. Suppose
800 votes are represented: On the first
ballot the three leading men will proba-
bly, receive an average Of 50 votes, and
the balance will be divided among the
other six. Thus, Charles will have 60
votes, Shepherd 30 and Lee 40, and the
other six % apiece. This result shows
that no one is the first choice of ma
iority but subsequent ballots are GER
tain to dissipate the second, or third
choice of majority; because the friends
of the lower, or weak candidates will
leave their first and go to their second
or third choice who develops greater
strength Hence, on the next ballot, it
is likely Charles will get IS, Shepherd
50 and Lee so, and the other six will
have 40 between them. On the follow
ing ballots these six lower candidates
will be dropped, because it will become
evident, as the voting proceeds, that
the people don't want them, and finally
the contest will be narrowed down to
two men ON the last vote Lee may
have 15l and Shepherd 149. 1t is thus
demonstrated that Lee is the third or
fourth choice of majority, and conse-
quently he is entitled to the nomina-
ton.
When men find out they cant get
their first choice, they will compromise
on the next best man, who, while he
may not be the first choice Of even 4
respectable minority yet proves himself
to he the third choice of majority.
Such a convention is bound to give
satisfaction. From this rough illustra-
ton, it is manifest that there is no trou-
BILE about the theory or practical work
ing of convention, if the members act
fairly and unseltiShly. But in practice
conventions are often employed by de-
signing men to trick the people out Of
their votes. They nominate third rate
office seekers who are not the first, sec
ond, nor any choice, of any body and
who don't command dozen votes upon
their own personal merits. Such men
are selected, and then the cry is raised,
that if you don't vote the ticket, the
Radicals will be elected. Thus, a con.
yention sometimes muzzles the ballot
box
Certain slick tongucd sinpletons flip
PANTY assert that We cant have fair
and honest convention; but they don't
understand what they are talking about.
Are the people honest or dishonest? Do
the people have sense and intelligence
enough to govern themselves? If they
are dishonest, then we ought to abolish
the ballot box and give supreme power
to our present immaculate politicians.
If the people are fools, then We ought
to have King.
When men say we can't have fair
convention, they practically assert that
the people are either fools or rascals
Hence it is absurd to say that we cant
have fair convention.
We can and we must have fair and
an honest convention. Heretofore, the
trouble has been that our conventions
nominated too many oflicers-there is
bound to be trading if the same men
select candidates for several different
offices. The fight is over the Sheriffal-
ty; don't let the convention which
picks out the Sheriff NEEDLE with
any other nomination. Have two
conventions a week apart. Have
one set of delegates TO pick out a
Sheriff, and another set 10 nominate for
the Legislators, Assessors, &c. This
plan gives little extra trouble, but it
is better than to have split in the par
ty we better take this trouble than let
the Radicals get the Offices
AN INTERESTING CORRESPONDENCE.
"The True Democrat advocates pin-
ciples, not men. Price, So q year.
Office of the True Democrat.
1876
To the Hon. Mr.. Rich Politician
Dear Sir-l enclose herewith and sub
NIT an article that Mr.. Fair Play wishes
me to publish in my paper. In this ar,
ticlc lie predicts that these hard times
will continue until the people elect bold,
independent and unselfsh men to Con-
, gress who will work for the country
instead of their own reelection and he
advocates Mr.. Hard Study. You are
acquainted with this gentleman; he has
more natural brain, power and genius
than any of those who manage at pres
eut our public affairs, he is generous,
accommodating, very industrious and
his private character is entirely above
reproach. If the people once discover
his talent and merit, they will push him
forward TO the very highest honors in
life. But he breaches and practices the
old time code OF political morality ard
will not resort to any trick or deception
I