Litchfield enquirer., 1877-07-19
Reform at the Bottom.

The Presidents order requiring office holders to keep away from conventions is intended to break up the control of such bodies by men whom only selfish inte- rest induces to attend them Such meas ure may have good effect as palliative, but it does not reach the root of the evil. The real difficulty arises from the fact that so few people take an interest in caucuses and in nominating conventions. Take our own Connecticut State and Congressional, County, Senatorial, and Probate Conventions. Of course all these Conventions are not often held the same year; but in most towns having two representatives in the House, from twelve to twenty delegates are nominated each year to each of the party conventions. The delegates pay their own expenses; they are so many that the honor of the position is not generally worth what it costs, and hence there is little competi- ton and slight interest on the part of the voters at large. The number of delegates appointed annually to the Republican and Democratic conventions in this state alone will average over 5000 and, from what we have seen of such gatherings, we judge that the caucuses who appoint these swarms of delegates will not average as many voters present as there are delegates appointed. Hence it is in these primary caucuses that the professional politician finds exactly that general lack of interest, both on the part of those who appoint delegates and on the part of those who are appointed, which enables him to exercise the noxious control over conyen- tions which is generally deprecated, and which is the great stumbling block of re- form.
 The question at nominating caucus is not who is fit to represent the party at the State or senatorial convention, but who is willing to undertake the expense of such attendance. for the sake of the party, or for the furtherance of his per sonal ambition. A postmaster who will consent to go to convention is appointed as matter of course. There are some not bad men who have a natural taste for politics, and who haunt conventions from pure love of that form of excitement. More go, or send their friends, when they have personal interests at stake. It is easy to see how scheming congressman, organizing a personal party within his political party, can manage political ma- chinerY so liable to abuse as thls conven- tion machinery, which is nevertheless the only method of nomination known to American politics. How then can these fountains of political abuse be purified?
 Our own belief has long been that the only remedy practicable is by making the position of delegate one of real honor. This can only be done by greatly reduc- ing the number of delegates, and by of- fering them reasonable compensation for their services. There is no real need of these interminable lists of delegates, and this endless succession of political conven- tions. One set of delegates is all that is needed for all the work of nomination. Let them meet as whole and nominate 8 state ticket, then divide into congression- al conventions, and sub-divide into coun- ty or senatorial conventions, and nominate the other officers needed. Two days would easily accomplish the work; and, from the diverse interests involved, the packing of conventions would be vastly more difficult than under the present plan.
 The other fundamental evil. the indif- ference of the voter to cnncnsna -:'' be I0meuIeu so soon as the position of delegate becomes one of real honor and importance. When each town sends only as many convention delegates as it now sends representatives to the legislature. and when their expenses are paid, the position of delegate would be second in impor- tance only to that of representative; com petition would be sharp. caueuses full. .and iublcbu udCulHc"Iudu0 COuNcublOuS W0 should have true popular conventions, above and beyond the control of the pro- fessional politician.
 The most serious objection to such an arrangement would of course be it's ex- pense. The actual cost to the state of two conventions, of 250 delegates each, and holding two days sessions, could hard ly exceed $5,0OO-a very small sum to pay for purification of Convention politics. To prevent unnecessary expense to the state, pay and mileage should only be given such delegates as could produce proof of their appointment at caucuses attended by certaing specified propor. tion of the voters.
 We are aware that our legislatures are shy of any recognition of the existence oi political parties; but, when the present management of politics has become such a terrible source of corruption, is it not time that legislatures should adopt such sensible. thorough measures of reform as
 are within their reach?
 Tbe Charter oak.