The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1884-02-22
DISTRICT DELEGATE CONVEN.
TONS.

The National Republican Convention
has been called to meet in Chicago on
the 5rd OF June next, and several States
have already issued calls for conven-
tons To select delegates TO represent
their respective commemorative.
Four years ago it will be remembered
that few stern and determined politi-
clans by means of the "unit rule" Great
ell protracted and heated convention,
and through their stubborness and de-
termination to gag every man whose
views did not coincide with theirs, al
most succeeded in thwarting the will of
the party at the National convention.
In order to prevent recurrence of the
tactics then so persistently adhered TO
by the would-be dictatOrs, the conven-
ton ordered that the rules for selecting
delegates to the convention of 1881
should be so formulated as to secure
to the Congressional districts the right
to choose their own delegates, and the
National Committee accordingly, i'll
january, 1883, provided that 1.-THE Re-
publicans of the various Congressional
districts shall have the option of elect
ing their delegates at separate popular
delegate conventions, called on similar
notice twenty daysl and held in the
districts at any time within fifteen days
next prior to the meeting of the State
Conventions, or by subdivision of the
State Conventions into district cOnven-
tons, and such delegates shall be clio
sen in the latter method if not elected
previous TO the meeting Of the State
Conventions, all district delegates TO be
accredited by the officers of such dis
trict conventions"
| While this provision was adopted Cs-
pecially to correct abuses i'll New York,
Pennsylvania, Illinois and other States
where arrogant politicians took upon
themselves the responsibility of pack
| ing caucus and conventions To suit their
own sweet will, regardless Ofthe wishes
of the great mass of voters, it is never
lheless one which can be applied
| wherever there are Congressional COM
mittees, and without regard TO the State
committee. The committee has only
TO take the precaution, if a District con-
vcntion be desired by the party, to call
it to meet within the specified time.
BY all means the various Congress
sional Districts in Minnesota should
hold District Conventions and select
their own delegates. Each District is
entitled to two delegates, and the State
at large to four. 1t is pretty well known
TO most of the people of this State, that
with the combined strength of st. Paul
and Minneapolis, they can handle a
convention pretty nearly as they choose,
for this very reason, if for no other, the
Districts should control their own poll
teal matters to the limit of their power.
We should send delegates to Chicago
unpledged and unhampered, for the
T standard bearer of the Republican par
t. in the campaign of 1884 will be the
choice ofthe people-selected free from
flctional strife and party bosses.
1t is every way probably that the
committee will call convention oh
Mankato for the Second Congressional
District to select delegates to the Ma
tional Convention, and in all probabtli
, ty the other districts in the State Nil
follow suit.