New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-30
THE CAUCUS IN NEW-HlMPSHIRE.

lS LILO CuuCuS bl5JClu uONihhh6
it Is not showing signs Of strength In New
Hampshire just now, where large number Oh
the Republican members Of the Legislature
did not obey the call to caucus over United
States Senator, and where Senator Rollins
who was nominated by the body claiming 10
be the caucus, has been steadily losing votes,
until his election now seems improbable. And
this spectacle Is one that may be said to have
grown almost familiar within the past two
years. The election Of Senator Mitchell, OF
PENNSYLVANIA, early in 1881, was the result OF
Just such q contest. The summer struggle In
New-York in 1881 will be remembered for
generation The evident intention OF the re-
signing Senators to capture majority of the
caucus and so command reelection, as they
thought, in an instant snapped like reed the
rule of the caucus None was held, and the
two Senators who were finally elected were
simply the selection of the individual members
arrived at through six weeks of weary ballot
ings. There were two conspicuous instances OF
the same kind early in the present year. The
Republicans of the Minnesota Legislature split
upon the question of re-elecung Senator
Window The caucus rule was disregarced.
After receiving what his friends claimed as
regular nomination Mr.. Window steadily lost
votes until the election of Mr.. Sabln resulted.
1t is fact of some interest, and perhaps OF
some significance, in connection with this very
subject, that, when the Minnesota Republican
Convention met the other day, resolution
was offered condemning the action of the
Republican members of the Legislature who
had voted against Mr. Window, but 1t was
laid on the table by vote Of las to 90. In
Michigan there was an exactly similar contest
Senator Ferry was the bone of contention, and
it was not until cighty-One ballots had been
taken, and the new Senatorial term was within
three days of beginning, that Mr. Palmer was
chosen TO fill it. In Nebraska also, there was
a struggle of some length, but that seemed to
grow out of the fact that there was only one
Senator to be elected, and some two dozen
men wanted the place, rather than from any
feeling against machine methods, such as
brought about the conflict in most of the other
cases named.
1t would be easy to argue that in each of the
prominent instances alluded to personal and
factional animosities had been aroused, and
the disregard of the sacred mandate OF the
caucus was not shown under the influence OF
any general sentiment against the caucus as
Objectionable in itself. But the fact remains
that threats of party accommodation had no
terrors for the men who stood outside the
caucus in these several States. They defed it
without fear, and their standing in the party
has not suffered. Their independence has
brought no penalties with it. Considering tho
number of these reyolts against the binding
rule of the majority, these circumstances may
portend change IN political methods. 1t may
be that the system that has prevailed with the
Republicans in Massachusetts of voting for
Senator according to individual preferences and
without any attempt TO select candidate by
the vote of a majority will be followed in other
States. There is certainly much less need Of
caucus action in selecting Senators than in
nominating officers who are to be voted for by
the people. When there are State officers, or
Congressman or members of the Legislature, to
be chosen, the convention, with its majority
rule, is the most practicable and convenient
| method of naming tho men who are to repre-
sent the party before the people; and if the
party is to maintain its existence, the decision
of the majority must be respected, unless it
| involves a sacrifice of principle on the part of
the minority. But in the election of Senator
there is not the same necessity for machinery
of this kind. There seems TO be no reason
why members of n Legislature should not 60
| into ballot for Senator without being bound
| in advance by the action of a caucus, and trust
to their own discretion and the influence of
] nublic sentiment to bring about a wise choice.
| II would not therefore, be startling revou-
| tion if in time the habit of nominating SEN
| o+ors Inv caucus should fall into disuSe in the
Republican party.