Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-11-26
lanraster fntelhgerlcer.
FRIDAY EVENING. NOV. 20, 1890.
A Plan for the PHILADELPHIA Democracy.

FRIDAY EVENING. NOV. 90, 1890.
A Plan for the Philadelphia Democracy.
The Philadelphia Democracy have
abolished the rules for the government
of the party, which were adopted but a
little while ago, and are now in search of
a new set which will give promise of
greater efficiency. Perhaps they will be
glad to receive suggestions in the matter
from any source and of any kind for
they no doubt realize the difficulty of the
work and. in view of the vain struggle
which they always are engaged in to
secure the representation of the voice Of
all their voters, they have good reason to
despair of ever being able to accomplish
the desired end.
The difficulty is one felt in every large
city and springs from the fact that every
Democratic method of representation
that has been tried is defeated by tine en-
ergy of disreputable men, who find their
account in seeking to control the prima-
ries and who are able and ready to do it
by treachery and fraud, and even force, SO
that the reputable element OF the party
is deprived of the opportunity Of peace
able participation in the direction of the
organization. Another trouble is found
in the indislOsition Of most men to give
any time or effort to the management of
the party: from which they seek no profit,
and to exert themselves for which
they do not find sufficient mo-
tive in their patriotism and party spirit.
They are all ready, however, to howl
when things go wrong and to disclaim a
responsibility which really belongs to
them for the evil work that is done by
men whom they could have put down if
they had been willing to try. In New
York the Democratic organization is not
Democratic in its essence, and is
saved from the control of the worst men
Of the party by being practically taken
possession OF by associations. The Tam
many society is nominally Democratic,
but really autocratic Its members are
supposed to he chosen 10y the people
voting at primary elections but those
elections are under control of the officers
who manage them, and who are able to
use them to perpetuate themselves IN
their places.
The question ishow to so organize party
in a city as to save it from the control
Of rings and to obtain the voice of every
member in its direction. That this can
not he done through the natural method
of the ordinary primary elections has
been SO fully demonstrated by expert
ence as to condemn any plan of organi-
zation based upon such elections. What
is needed to be done is to make the par
ticipatiOn Of every voter rs easy us pos
sible. His voice is wanted and we think
we know how it can he had. Our sug-
gestiOn is that the voters of every pre-
cinct be divided into tens, who shall an
nually choose one of their number to cast
their ten votes on every occasion during
the year when the primary voice of the
party is wanted. lie will vote as direct
ed 10y those who have chosen him, or, in
default of such instruction, as he sees fit.
These companies of ten may he ar
ranged by the voters assOciating them
selves rs may be agreeable to them !:
those not SO associated by a certain time
being put together alphabetically or by
proximity of residence.
The chiefs of these ten will I've the
of the precinct, voting
for the voters in it on all occasions.
II necessary this principle of one man
voting as the special representative of
ten may be carried up still further, by the
chiefs of the primary tens in the precincts
selecting one-tenth of their number to
do the party voting in the ward, district
or city. But the first step ought to re-
move the chief evil of the primary
elections, since it will enable each
ten citizens TO select representa-
tive who will probably he willing
to give his attention to the duty
he has assumed, which is simply that of
voting the opinions of his small constitu-
ency. If he fails in his duty, or misrep-
resents them, they have the power in
their hands to remove him the next
year.
The plan seems to have Tie recommen-
dation OF simplicity and could readily be
arranged in its details. Its fundamental
idea is to secure the voice of men who
will not take the trouble OF encounter
the risks and unpleasantness often at
tendant upon going to the usual primary
elections of precinct in great
city, and to secure, moreover, that of
those who SO go and are cheated for their
pains. We suggest it for consideration
for what it is worth.
Weather Prophecies.
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ing greatly i'm their representations of