Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1886-12-23
From Re Gresubrier Independent.
Legislative Caucus.

essentials augment IN Importance WUOn
les caution is required in u cOnsest with
weak enemy than with one that Is strong
and wary. Ia the one case want OF unity
NAV be simply vice, but III the other II
can hardly ever be less than crime.
The Democrats In the Legislature elect
have a majority on joint ballot OF but seven
yotes-6ve in the House and two IN the
senate. 4 change of only four votes VIII
give the Republicans control OF the JOINT
Assembly. No one can assume that the
Republicans are without hope. They are
we'll Organized aud will unite IN any scheme
that will destroy or weaken the power oI
the Democratic majority. They know TINS
can be done only by disorganizatlon ana
discussion among the Democrats. lhey
know full we'll that, if Democratic unlty
obtains, they will have no opportunity ell
ther to promote their own objects or 10 I'M
pair those of their opponents
I'm the face of these plain facts lhere
seems % be a disposition on the part OF
some thoughtless Democrats 70 advise mem
hers of the Legislature 10 refuse 10 submit
to party u>ages in the selection OF cahdi-
date for the United States Senate. ms, IL
seems To- Us. i not only undemocratc, but
inconsistent and Just what the Repuoh ans
desire % have done -.
II /, undemocratic because II Is a carui-
nal principle of that party 10 submit IN
good faith 10 the wishes OF the majority
when a>certained according to party u.ageS.
n has been the recognized and uniform
usage of the party, since the days ol zen
.Iarks,n 10 select candidates for office Ell
th,r I'm conventions or by primary elections
and when the majority thus elects the can
T dilaie. aN opposition Is Withdrawn Hhu
those in the minority, who failed % gt'
th,ir chuice, ,uppr s., their disappointment
/ fl into line and supper, the majority can
didate-tbe nominee of the party. Inc
same usage has been followed IN the selec
rion oft candidates by the Legislature 70 h!l
The offices iu their respective bodle ana io'
tha nomination of candidates for the I'M
/ ted states senate Where the people select
the candidate the m0dlN oper0H@ Is caile"
IL convention or primary election, and IN
case, of nominations by the Legislature or
other representative bodies it is called q
caucus but in either case the principle Is
/ the same. and the reason and necessity ln
tine one case applies with equal force TO the
others.
In would be inconsistent IN any member
of the LEGISLATURE who has been elected aS
the nominee of the Democratic party, To re
I fuse to go into caucus for the selection OF
candidates for the office, tO bc chosen oN
/ chat body Such member was elected be-
cause he va, nominated, and he was noml-
mated because the majority OF the Demo
crit, in hi, county OF district selected HIM
rs the candidate O the whole party. Those
who oDpl,ed as well us those tav0ring his
nomination voted for him because he was
The choice OF the majority, and not because
he va, the choice OF those who opposed his
nom nation. Can such member, with any
consistency or credit o. his Democracy, re-
pudiate The u>ages OF his party? lie must
admit that he owes his own election to that
usage Can he. then, SAY that he Is wiser
than his party. or that such usage i all
rirht tor him Oh get into office, but he Is too
wise independent.and conscientious 10 fol-
low 10 after he has gotten into Office?
But 10 may be said that the going int"
the Democratic caucus will result IN the
nomination OF some p. rspu ao candidate
whom the member does not want, and he
ba inc roLc into the caucus. Will be com
pe led 90 vote for him against bis wiShe'
and better Judgment is not that Just Whai
the minority 81 his party did, who oppose
Oh, nomination? They opposed hls nomln"-
ton. but when he became the nominee "l
the party they voted tor him, not because
he WAS their choice, but because he was the
nominee of the majority OF the party.
III such member Is too wise or too patrl
otto to be governed by the wishes and judy
ment of the majority of his party, what l.
be going 20 do? Is he sure that he or the
people his county are wiser tlan the ma
ioriiv of his iellow-members OF ms party
or their constituents Ii he does not sub
nit TO the majority of his own party, he
must expect, If he hopes TO succeed, either
90 assist the Republicans 10 elect their can
didate. or get them 10 assist 10 elect his.
OF course ne does not intend 10 assist his
enemies 20 elect their candidate. II th,
Republican, assist him, he may be sur,
they will not do so for the interests OF the
Democratic party. All their efforts will be
to promote their own party interests. They
will use him as their tool it they can. Bu'
they will never aid him In the advancement
of Democratic success OF the promotion o;
Democratic principles Why would h.
prefer the aid of his enemies 90 defeat tn
wishes of the majority of his party rather
than submit his own action 10 the judgmen
of IS friends The minority Is always the
advocate of separates q independent action
in Ire majority party This Is sound polieN
or 60. but death and destruction TO the ma
iority. Who ever knew a Republican ma
ior'ty. In any body, 90 advocate iudepend-
eat action ON che part of any of It's mem
ber,2
r. Is elways safer To- adhere 10 settled uSa
yes and principles. An cannot have their
choice OF representation in a Republic
Di,appoiuJmeuts must occur and be eudur
cd IL is certainly better 20 yield to the
wishes and judgment Of majority IN the
Ugr.y than for the minority 10 unite with
the enemy 90 defeat the choice of the ma
jori.y.
lit not regarded as a political disgrace
CD become % bo,tcr and then an independent
candidate against che nominee of party?
The hope and object OF such candidate l.
% cet enough votes from the opposition
with the boilers I'm his own party 20 elect
him. Is this not also the object of the
member of the Legislature who refuses 10
90 into caucus, because he fears by so doing
be will not be able 70 have bis candidate
ucmndted2 Doe, he not. like the indepen-
dent candidate. STAY out of the caucus i'm
order 20 get enough votes of the opposition
CD defeat the choice of his party? The two
cases are entirely parallel and both of them
are rpprehenSiblc and undem0cratic.
What we have said Is i'm the interest OF
the Democratic nartv and not In the inter