Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-05-20
OF PREcONcERT END CONSISTENCY.

We have had great deal to say about
g bosses and "put-up jobs" in politics,
and the tyranny of the pre-arranged boss
caucus, and the infamy of the doctored
primary" We have not a thing to retract
hot single statement to amend. But
let us not be misunderstood. When we
demand that there shall be "fair play"
and full opportunity for all voters in
party to make their desires known, we are
very far from demanding the abolition Of
preconcert within the party. In fact, il is
essential. If the many go up to the pri-
maries without any understanding what
ever, confusion will result, and good effort
be 50 scattered that good results will not
follow. while the few who agree to a given
line Of action will succeed. The bosses"
have right to agree upon whom they
will support. They would be fools not to
50 agree What is needed is that those
wac believe their methods bad shall,
as they do, pre-arrange for definite
ends. But this Encouragement should
not be achieved by misuse of the party
machinery. 1t should be the result of de-
hberate counsels, called after ample notice,
held to the exclusion of no party man en-
titled to be present, and conducted with
such calm and freedom from personal dom
ination that the wish of the majority of
the voters can be clearly ascertained. If
when these opportunities are offered, the
voters fail to avail Of them, there will be
no blame, and the mouths of the protest
ants will be closed by virtue of their own
laches.
\ valued correspondent calls our atten-
ton to what he deems an inconsistency Of
The press that cries aloud against the eau
Gus of the bosses SAYS he: "There must
be some preconcert in all primary political
matters. Without it there will be no fair
expression of the will of the voters within
the organization. Here now is the Bulletin,
of San Francisco, that has been inveighing
against the boss rule in that city. and
the preconcer;ed action of certain eIe
ment, by which it has achieved its ends
uniformly. Now that an open Porter pri-
mary is ordered, the Bulletin applauds, and
congratulates the party membership. But
IN the same breath this inconsistent Jour
M urges the good men of the party to
meet and prearrange action for the primary
polls. And very properly, for without it
they can accomplish nothing. But how is
1t that the Bulletin can claim the virtue of
consistency as one Of the rules Of its code.
when 1t condemns the Encouragement of
one class, and approves that of another
And, by the way, is not the REcoRD-U UNION
III the same boat y"
The answer to this is simple enough.
We Judge trees by their fruits. The fruit
of the boss Encouragement has been
boss reward" and not the best govern
ment for the State or the municipality.
Tueir prearrangementsa are not condemned
in the abstract, but in the fruitage, and in
the motive from which springs their activ-
ltN. OF course, there must be some pre-
concert, and we care not much who takes
1t, If the purpose be- pure, and the end
reached eommendable. The caucus is not,
in itself, bad, but it is bad If it is made the
means to falsely represent the sentiment it
assumes to voice. What is caucus? An |
assemblage to consult upon proper line
OF policy, under system that re-
qu'reS some action to the end |
OF securing representative government |
IL, or some equivalent for it, is iudis- |
pensable as an adjunct to party govern
msnt. Just so far as the caucus of the |
the party represents the sentiment to be |
m ide manifest at the polls, it certainly |
does decide elections 10y secret ballot and
this Is necessary consequence of majority |
rule. Where the caucus decide upon
line Of party action by viva voee express |
sion, 1T runs counter to the majesty and
sacredness Of the secret ballot. A pure
Caucus, then, would be one directed by
ballot IN It's conclusions. The people de-
hne by majority the policy of the country; |
on The same principle the party within
lis lines, by majority vote, defines the |
policy II will pursue. The misuse of the
method is, therefore, the CHEF residence of
any evil attaching to it. To be purely !
these preliminary meetings |
for Encouragement of party work, should |
be confined strictly to those qualified and
entitled to be present. They should he
Gree from foreign influence. The voters
p