Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-04-15
THE ClUCUS SYSTEM.

The somewhat profane objurgation hurled
by Mr. Hurd at the caucus system on Satur-
day will find more hearty responses through
out the country than even that gentleman
could realize, for the conviction is becoming
very general that the caucus, to use slang
phrase, sis not what it is cracked up to be-
The theory of the caucus is good one-the
assembling together of men of one way of
thinking for the purpose of interchanging
views and assisting each other by such sug-
gestions as may occur to them in the course
of debate In practice, however, it is an en-
tirely different thing. Instead of being en-
ployed only for counsel, it is now used main
ly for coercion-to interfere with the free ex-
ercise of the will Of the members Of legis-
lative bodies.
It is only within late years that the
caucus system has deteriorated and become
partisan engine. While each member
ought to be allowed to exercise his free will
on all matters of public concern, and to faith
fully represent his constituents, the caucus
| makes him practically machine to execute
its will. It has become obligatory upon ev-
cry person who enters the caucus to submit
| to it's dictation in all matters, whether it
agrees with his sense of right OF wrong or
not, and if he fails to abide by that decision
he is instantly read out of the party to
which he may belong, and from that mo-
ment his influence as legislator ceases.
While this may be necessary in certain
emergencies in order TO maintain the disci-
pline of the party, it is wrong in principle
and very often leads to very undesirable re-
suits The caucus is not always on the
right side of every question. 1t very fire.
quently errs, as the Democratic caucus did
last week, in resolving to open the
gate for a flood of new legislation
| If left to themselves-given the privilege
of free exercise of their own judgment, We
are convinced that majority of the mem
| bers would not have consented to SUCH s
step, but would rather have kept all gener
| al legislation for consideration at the regula
session which meets in December next
Such, at least, would have been a common
sense course, and we do not believe that
majority of the members ofaeither house o
Congress would have taken 80 unwise
step.
The caucus has its uses, but it is fast be
coming question whether its abuses viii
not soon occasion strong popular deman'
for it's abolition. It is often useful for per
sons of each political party to get togethe
: and discuss questions of public concern il
/ an informal manner. Through these dis
, cussions many errors OF judgment are ofte
corrected, and men receive fresh light tina
i proves of value to them when the mat
. ters como before the deliberative bodies
t which they belong in a formal manner. Blu
r when caucus endeavors to bind every ma
t present to vote for or against any particula
: measure, it transcends its authority, and be
: comes an engine of tyranny and interfere
;. with the freedom of choice of every membe
o rendering him incapable, perhaps, of prof.
It erly representing the interests of his consti
Q uents. The system has grown up within
comparatively short time, growing worse an
more arbitrary every year, until the promis
8 is good that all the legislation of Congress
's and our State legislatures will be mature
1t and practically enacted in the caucus of tt
d dominant party, leaving nothing for the rel
? ularly constituted authorities to do but
3 ratify that action.
y 1t is about time that our Senators an
70 Representatives in Congress put their thinl
|. ing caps on and ask themselves sober
g where this caucus system is tending. Und
1t proper restrictions such as we have ind
70 Gated it is harmless and even beneficial
At the public interests, but allowed to a
10 sumo the arbitrary powers claimed #
If it since the close of tho war, it is liable to
i great and permanent injury to our who
30 system of government. Let the caucus +
i, main, but simply as an advisory committe
l. without the power to bind its members
70 any given course of action. It will be q
n most as easy to maintain the discipline
p the parties under such circumstances as u
J. der the stringent rules now in force, and
will be far better to depend upon the inhere
merits of any subject that may call for legi
lation than upon threat of party excommur
% cation.