St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-08-21
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE.
The Caucus.


10 the Editor of the Globe.
lsINoURs, Mimi, Aug. 19.-The Democratic
eaucuses were held recently in this section,
In adjoining towns, the first for many years.
different methods were adopted in each of Sc
lecung delegates, and there is a difference of
opinion as to which is best in accord with
Jusuce and the righteous Democratic usage
Vi tue olden time. Most of us take the GLOBE,
respectlts opinions and acknowledge the expe-
Iieuce aud fairness that dictates them; there
lore We nave decided to refer the dispute to
you, respectfully asking for decision.
in caucus No. l all of the business was
transacted openly, the delegates were nomin-
ateo py the voters present and each one voted
LOT separately. Committees were voted for
ana not appointed by the chairman.
In caucus No. motion was made that
Tue chairman appoint committee to select
the delegates; an amendment was offered to
Illuminate In open caucus. The chairman de-
CARED the amendment lost, though the vote
was close and it's friends MAINTAIN that
WIN unity OF purpose and firm
demand for count it might not have
peen. Inc argument presented in the caucus
against the selection OF delegates by q
committee was briefly as follows: That 1t was
not III accordance with the best Democratic
usagei tnat 1t was vicious method copied
from the Republican party, and was the
foundation stone Of Capitalization. inasmuch
rs the caucus is the very foundation itself of
our government; that the retirement of
snaH committee to private room to select
delegates or candidates sayored OF star cham
Der proceedings, stimulated bargains, dicker-
ing ana jobs, permitted ambitious and de-
signing men to place their personal followers
III Posltions to carry out their private de-
signs, and usually resulted in the presenta
lion OF list of names previously agreed
upon. This list was voted upon entire be-
cause the average citizen is too modest to
select the obnoxious delegates for criticism,
lhus Gazing upon himself the wrath of the
parties themselves and their hackers. On the
other hand, nominations in open caucus per-
United every voter the privilege of
expressing his opinion as to who
had tue honesty and ability to properly
represent him. This method brings out
the men who possess the confidence of their
fellows and not the tools Of ambitious trick
sters. The chairman reported that the selec-
tloh OF delegates by committee was the best
custom and usage. He defended the Repub-
ilcan party-in fact is Repu blican Official
SAID the need for change was because the
republicans had got into rut, not because
they were thieves or bad men and that the
star chamber illusions would not have been
made by gentleman. He then proceeded to
put motion of his own, selected his commit
tee, who promptly returned with five men
distinguished only for being his personal fol-
lowers, one of whom was a member of q
Blaine club and others active workers in re-
cent Repu blican primaries. Without the for
mal1ty OF recognition the chairman was in
formed that his assertion as to what a gentle
man would not have uttered was falsehood
and the caucus adjourned. Now then, will
you kindly say which caucus in your opinion
pursued method most likely to result in
good government administered by honest and
capable officials. In making this ex-parte
statement it is only fair to inform you that 1
&s1;,o 4
Gus NO. and was spectator in Caucus No.
2, but that believe the facts and arguments
have been fairly stated. There may be other
and better arguments in favor of the commit
tee plan, but they were not offered. Respect
fully yours, NJ. Il. GRATTAN
In rendering decision according to the
facts as set forth in the foregoing state
ment, the GLOBE has no hesitation in say
ing that Caucus No. was not only the
most Democratic in it's methods, but was
really the only one that has a Democratic
tinge to it. Ordinarily caucus or conven-
ton has the right to determine what methods
it Will adopt to accomplish its work. The
Democratic idea is that all power is lodged
in the people. The Republican theory is
that the further power is removed from
the masses and lodged in centralized head
the better the form of government The
usage of Democratic caucuses is to deter
mine everything according to the will of
the majority and to do it above board and
in the face of tile whole world. The Re-
publican caucus system is TO let a few
bosses manipulate the wires in the shadow
of a star chamber. With this statement of
the few primary principles that govern
Democratic and Republican caucus methods
respectively. our correspondent can form
his own conclusions as to which of the two
caucuses held in his neighborhood most
nearly accorded with Democratic usages.