Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-06-29
Selecting Legislators.

The Democrats over in Franklin coun.
ty have set an example worthy of all
imitation in selecting a legislative ticket
which has on it such name as that of
J. Mcdowell Sharpe, and if Mr.. Sharpe
accepts the nomination he will do what
men of his standing should do. Why
can we not have Legislature composed
of our best men? Such Legislature
would not need to sit long and be a
tax upon the time of good and able men
which they cannot bear. In q session
of month such men could consider
and decide all the things that need to
be considered and decided for the wei.
fare OF the State for a period OF two years.
AT present 1t Is not very great honor
to be state represen tative; not because
the place and its duties are not of great
importance, but because the men sent
to do these duties are not generally
taken from those Of highest standing in
the community for their intelligence,
integrity and ability. Certainly it is
undeniable that the state needs in its
Legislature the very best men it has. 1t
needs them sorely it does not get them
1t may have them il such men will ac.
cept the office, ard they will incline to
do so if they know that they will meet
there their peers in character and ablli.
ty. If few good men over the state
will follow Mr.. Sharpe's example and a
few conventions initiate that OF Frank.
lin county, We may fairly hope that the
example will be catching, to the great
honor and glory of the state.
The na-,Crrg,u nj Er,rl-t;r.
were no douOt inspired to do this credit.
able thing by the fact that the county
is close politically and they needed to
put their best foot forward to win. This
is the great benefit of having closely
contested political districts. If the
state could be so divided as to make
such districts as many as possible, we
would have che very best possible
marShslling Of votes. 1t is very iDiuri.
Gus to have political parties so onesided
as they are in Berks and Lancaster
counties, where the election is decided
not by the people, but by the political
conventions. There is no sense in slenc.
ing absolutely the voice of the Democ.
racy in Lancaster and the Republicans
in Berks. They are citizens of the state
equally with their fellow Democrats and
Republicans in counties where men of
both parties have a chance to be repre-.
sented yet they are practically disfran-
chised in electing a Legislature, and
for time out of mind have been so.
There is little provocation for Demo.
Gratis in Lancaster TO seek a-legislative
nomination, or for our conventions to
be fastidious as to their nominations.
Noticeably, however, we name better
men than the Republican conventions,
whose nomination is an election; the
candidates there work for nomination
thing which men fit for the place
would not care or condescend to do. 1t
is not a wholesome way of iillinga Leg.
islature. But it is the laws way and
cannot be altogether helped But if
Democratic conventions would rise to
their opportunity, in districts where
they can elect, either surely or possibly,
and would name their best men for the
Senate and Assembly, they would do
the greatest benefit for their party and
the state that could be done to it. They
would show themselves worthy of their
trust and the day of Democratic ascen.
dency would dawn, never to end while
this course was followed. d.-LancaSter In.
tglli1encer