The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1881-02-24
CAUCUSES AND ELECTIONS.
tFrom the Nord-westen. Feb. IN

The following communication by apron
inent gentleman of this county appeared
| in the Nord- Weston of last week. Ir
reproducing it in our columns we adop
as our own the views of the writer. Las
fall The Pilot urged the ACCESSIBILITY Of
having nominations made uiua Uoce, an6
We are glad to notice that others enter
| tain like views:
EDITOR NoRD- WEsTEN:
notice by perusal of your paper
that considerable interest IS being mani.
tested l1elation to the election Of coun-
ty Judge this spring. The Office of coun.
ty Judge is so very important a one. that
nationality should be allowed to play NO
part whatever in determining the quail
tications of the candidates. It makes no
difference whether the officer be Ger
man or any other nationality, provided
be be an upright honest and competent
man. These and these only are entitled
to consideration.
In order to secure good nomination
there must be reformation in the meth
Cd of conducting caucuses. Machine
nominations must not be tolerated and
men must be chosen as delegates in each
ward and town who will fairly represent
the preferences prevailing in these wards
and towns, and vote in accordance with
the wishes OF the people whose delegates
they are. This is not the rule at present.
Men are put forward and strive for the
position OF delegate in the interest of one
man, without regard to his fitness or his
being the choice of the people, Many
persons put themselves forward as candi-
dates for the honorary position of dele
gate from bad motives and without being
able to Judge of the qualifications of the
men whom they nominate to Office. On
account OF this unseemly strife and eau.
cus-packing respectable people often
refuse to attend caucuses and conventions
are controlle / by that class which should
not be prominent in the election of Off
GERS.
The caucus and convention are the
basis for good officers as it is through
them people are selected who ultimately
come before the people. In view of this
fact every citizen should attend his party
caucus and exercise judgment in the
selection OF those whom he votes for to
represent his town or ward. The names
of those who are willing to be delegates
should be read off by the chairman and
the people should vote for those whom
they think will best discharge the trust
confided to them.
1t often happens that the person chosen
by certain town or ward as delegate.
deceives the people who select him, and
votes for a man to whose candidacy they
are opposed. Are not the people of each
town entitled to know whether their del
egate fulfills his promises, and votes for
the man who is their choice? Under the
present system of secret balloting thew
do not know how he votes and it is as
often in opposition to their wishes as in
harmony with them. The people in at
tendance at the caucus should instruct
the delegates to vote UiUa UOce and any
person who refuses to do SO should not
be trusted to cast the vote of the town in
the convention. Citizens should insist
upon this. Good results will follow,
among which the following may be emu
merated: The people of every town and
ward in the county will know just for
what candidate their delegates intend to
vote. Candidates will be aware of this
fact and disreputable importuning will
be discontinued. No delegate will make
promises to candidates which the manner
OF voting will not allow him to fulfill, and
he will not have an opportunity of de-
ceiving without being detected. It will
put an end to wire pulling and caucus
packing which is becoming altogether
too common. The people will be allow
ed to select their own delegates without
the intervention of candidates. Men
will be chosen who are not afraid to state
for whom they intend to vote and lying
and schening will be at an END. Who
seconds the notion?