Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-10-20
Glk Eanfaster Jntelliacuss
LANCASTER. OCTOBER %. 1885.
Congressional COnferrees.

have had unusual trouble this year, in both
PARTIES, in selecting their candidates.
There generally is great deal of friction
In these nominations, due mainly TO the
conference system of selection, but this
time the evil proves so great as to urgently
call for remedy.
There is no warrant in Democracy or
sense for the conferree system. There is
no reason why the big and the little coun-
ties in district should have like voice in
the selection of the candidate who is not
the candidate of the counties but of the
district; and the district obviously should
select him through a district convention
or by poll of the district voters, as in the
so-called Crawford county system.
AS things stand now, each county bobs
up with candidate, and little fellow,
with talent for combination, or ability to
control conferrees, is able every time to
heat the big fellow, less ably equipped with
the implements for securing confirm
votes ; and the consequence to the party is
that is it is badly represented in Congress,
Pennsylvania has woefully low average
Of talent among her congressional repre-
sentatives of both parties, and will never
have higher one until there is a iairer
chance for popular selection of candi-
dates. The little fellows of the counties, if
they were forced to spread themselves over
district to get nomination, would find
that they did not have wind enough for
the race. 1t has been fairly as
founding to us to see the character
Of men who present themselves for con-
gressiOnal nominations before district con-
ferrees and get them. 1t is strange that men
90 little qualified to shine as congressman
should want the place. They fail to re-
member that man gets no credit by hold
ing a post which he does not adorn or
else they are careless Of fame and only re.
gardful of salary.
lnMr. Boyle's district we do not doubt that
the Democracy would have returned him
the nomination if they had had the power
of nomination; because Mr. Boyle has
made a good congressman and is the best
man in the district for the place, barring
his inability to make wise disposition Of
his business as congressman to distribute
anyway. But the conferrees repudiated Mr..
Boyle and chose Mr.. Rafferty,, a business
man of wealth who does not live in
the district, and not naturally equipped
for congressional duties. The Democ-
racy of the district repudiate Raj.
ferty, and John Latta is given TO them
as the alternative choice. 1t is not very
brilliant alternative, it is true, but it
seems to have been the best that conferree
wisdom could do for the district. when
second time invoked. We see that Rafferty,
asks Latta to submit their respective
claims to the state committee, and that
Latta declines. The matter had better be
submitted to some authority with sense
enough to get both out of the way and
give the people the opportunity TO re-eect
Boyle.
So in Curtin's district, the governor re-
tired and told his conferrees to vote for
Wallace. The little fellows from the little
counties in the district put in their con.
ferrees solid for themselves, and refused to
see what the Democracy Of the state clear
ly saw, and what the Democracy of the
district would have seen if they had been
nominating the congressman, that Wallace
was the man to be chosen. They
rustled around and raised their feeble plu
mage, refusing to retire for anybody so
that Mr.. Wallace withdrew, as he could
not afford to contend over the nomination
with smaller men. Mr.. Hall, who is
lumberman and man of wealth
and fair ability, was finally nom-
s7pated; and the Republicans have
7 nominated against him Mr.. Patton. A
banker and man Of wealth, whom brother
Blaine calls on the faithful to support, and
who will doubtless be supported to the very
extent OF the pocketbOOk influence he can
WELD
But these are both Democratic districts
that have been represented by men of con-
gressiOnal capacity in Curtin and BOYLE.
The Democracy is bound to lose greatly
even If its candidates are chosen, and the
districts are endangered by their nomina-
tions, 80 that even its vote may be lost.
Is not this enough to cause the party to
cry aloud for redress !? Shall state of
things be continued which jeopardizes Dem
ocratic districts by the contests of men un-
edapted for Congress to seize congressional
places We protest against it, We are
sick Of it.
49,