The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1886-11-12
THE CAUCUS.

''The cretense which IS used to !
force the c&bal policy Of a side eau |
Gus of members upon the Democrats |
of the Legislature, contrary 10 all
Tennessee precedent, is that only
Democrats should be allowed to
name democrats for the Offices
Avalanche.
What better reason for a caucus
does the Avalanche want, than that
democrats alone should be allowed
to name the offices? That IS Ger
tainly a sufficient reason for any
democrat, Why should the Repub-
licans be permitted to have a voice
III naming the Democratic candi-
dates for Offices 10 be filled by the
Legislature? The Republicans were
not permitted to have anything to
say as to who should be the Demo-
cratic candidates for the Legislature,
then by what sort of reasoning is the
conclusion reached that they shuold
be allowed to assist in naming the
democratic candidates for places to
be filed by that body? The next
Legislature will be composed en-
tirely of democrats and repub licans.
If the Avalanche is opposed to The
democrats selecting their candidates
for Offices to be filed by the Legis-
latdre, then it wants the republicans
to have a voice in their selection
Why is it that the Avalanche, and
few other democratic papers
which hold to and advocate repub-
lican doctrines, are SO anxious for
the republicans to have a voice in
naming the officers? The reason is
clear and every body understands
why it is. They seek to cover up
their motives by such terms as
liking caucus" criminal folly"
"oficial bosses" and the like, but no
one is deceived by them, What is
the reason? It is Just this, these
gentlemen have certain other gentle
men staked out as candidates for
several offices to be filed by the
next Legislature, notably that of
United States Senator, and they
know that their candidates will not
stand a ghost of a chance before
democrats alone. but would be ac-
eeptable to the republicans be-
cause they are not much demo rats,
anyway, and their only hope is to
get through with tue aid of the solid
repu blican vote, combined with
that of few democrats. Ii that is
| the proper way to select officials, why
are the republicans denied partlci-
patton in our conventions and prima-
ries? The assertion that a member
of the Legislature torfeits his self
respect by agreeing to abide the
action of a caucus, is the merest
balderdash. If he does, then every
member of a convention forfeits
his self-respect when he goes int :
party convention. In both instan-
ces they agree to allow the member
of the party presents to determine
the matter in issue, and to abide
their decision.
The Avalanche asserts that the
caucus system is contrary to prece.
dent in Tennessee. IF this were true
it is no sufficient reason why the
system should not be lnaugurateC
in Tennessee if 1t is good one
Tie system is in vogue in Congress
and In almost every State in tn
Union Why should we not have
it in Tennessee? While we do no
claim to be very familiar with the
doings of the political parties II
Tenness ee, we do know that caucus
have been held by both politica
parties IN Tennessee during almos
every session of the Legislature il
this state for the last six or eigh
years. We believe the caucus sys
tenn TO be a good one, and think
just as necessary to preserve part
organization IN the Legislature, a
E the convention, or primary system
is necessary to secure harmony an
, united action in popular elections
: 1t is true that there Is no danger 0
the Republicans, alone, capturing
q any OF the Offices, but they Nigh
: and could do SO With the aid of
e few democrats who are not III sym
- pathy with the great body of tn
party IN Tennessee.