The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1877-03-30
THE CRAWFORD COUNTY SYSTEM.

THE CRAWFORD COUNTY SYSTEM.
Col McClure's Philadelphia Tines of the
26th Of March strangely enough recommends
to the Republicans of Blair county the
Crawford county plan for making nomina-
tious to office. We say strangely, for the
wide knowledge OF practical politics possess
ed by the chief Editor of the Times, renders
it surprsingthat he should endorse the most
vicious plan of nomination ever prepared or
put in practice in free state--one deeply
charged with the elements of fraud, intrigue,
injustice, absurdity and scandal, and which
cannot be worked at all in some commun-
ties and must work badly in all. Perhaps
the Colonel was noddng upon his throne
ridc'ica editorial chair-or perhaps that
throne was u'urped for the time by another
less skillfu or less intelligent than himself.
Now there is not the slightest partyism
involved in nominating plans and therefore
their discussion may very properly occupy
the.atteuton of Independent journals but
when the Independent journals run wild even
the organs may rebuke them
The objections to the Crawford county
plan are 50 evident and have been 50 thor
oughy exhibited by trial in various parts of
the State that one would think that nothing
but stolid Ignorance could cause any one to
overlook them. Particularly in Philadel-
phia there ought to be no difference OF opn-
ion about plan which has largely contrib
uted to render nominations for Office there,
thoroughly iarcal if not disgracelul Near
er home. our leighbors Of Northumberland
county had most instructive experience Of
the plan some years since, and they dropped
it bv lromuon consent A trial of it in
Schuvkill or Luzerne would present Il
mournful spectacle for the contemplation OF
men and. Gods 1t is quite mistake to
suppose that this plan is opposed to the en-
ployment or 70 the interests Of party leaders
and party workers--in word, 10 mr.hiHe
politics. What i! IS opposed - Is fair play
and integrity in nominations and II is fear
ful instrument for unscrupulOus greed and
ambition in the debauchment OF the people
and the promotion of selfish interests. VIZ
will simply mention here, before dismssing
this subject that the Crawford county plan
produces the following inadvisabe results
/. It gives minority nominations for party
support, for its plurality nominations are re-
ally minority ones in most cases
9 1t gives unchecked effect to fraud in
primary elections, and that for two reasons
fyt, brcause surh fraud tells directly upon
the general result and does not expend It's
force upon aslocal one, and second, because
the frauds which the plan invites cannot b'
: investigated and corrected for want Of time
want of means and want of proper authori
ty for such purpose.
3. 1t makes primary elections very expen
sive, involving canvass Of voters and ex
tensive employment of local agents. Unde
it county is harried by candidates ant
persons employed by them with increase,
outlay and pecuniary engagements to be dis
charged in the future.
4. 1t invites to the running of sham candi
dates for nomination in order 10 divide th
vote in particular districts. A shrewd cGn
didate with money will hire men to run il
districts opposed to him in order to divid
the vote there and secure to himsefa plural
E ity vote upon the general return.
g 8. 1t dispenses with properly constitutes
, body of delegates in Convention, require
for appointment Of district Conferees an
for..the performance of other responsible par
ty work.
But why multiply words ? Although th
old Convention plan is very defective, wit
, all its imperfections it is greatly to be pre-
ferred to this new plan, some of whose char
! acterstcs we have just mentioned. Wher
it exists it ought to De amended or superse
ded, but in such manner that real reforr
will be secured.
Fortunately in this county we have a
amended plan which has worked well fc
seven years, and which, perfected from tim
to time as experience led the way, is no,
8 probably the most complete, convenient an
just plan in existence anywhere in the cour
try. We shall hereafter discuss it for tn
edification OF our friends in other countie
who have been less fortunate than oul
selves.