The weekly tribune., 1892-08-06
MISTAKES IN CAMPAIGNS,


most fatal mistakes the democratic
party makes is in meeting in nominat-
ing conventions all at sea as regards the
candidates to be presented to the people
for their suffrages. Political conven-
tions are not-in the common accepta-
tion OF the term-deliberativ bodies;
they are executive bodies meeting, as it
is supposed, to carry out the will of this
or that party upon any given matter.
But costly mistakes are made simply be-
cause no pains have been taken to ascer-
tain the wish of the party concerning
the matter
How often the question is asked when
members Of nominating conventions
meet: who is candidate for this office;
who is a candidate for that? The an
swers invariably are: don't know, or
l have heard thie one or that one named
for them. The result of this "knowing
nothing about it. is that after the con-
test over the one or two principal offices
is ended nominations for the others are
made without due regard to locality,
availability or fitness in the haste to
finish up the business of the convention.
This is all wrong. While the TRIBUNE
does not believe in slate making or in
the "you tickle me and I'll tickle you"
plan of capturing nominations, it does
believe in members of nominating con-
vention meeting with pretty well de-
fined idea as to the men whom they will
nominate for the different offices. This
idea, however, can be gained only by
their knowing who will be acceptable to
their party and this knowledge can be
gained only by free and unrestrained
communication among all. In the mat
ter of county Offices this is most i'm
pOrtant.
A call for the county democratic con-
vention will be issued before long The
republicans being the 'ins' it is reason
ably certain these same "ins'' have
named the ticket for their party. The
democrats are the 'outs.' They must
make up ticket out of whole cloth.
There will be long list OF candidates to
be voted for, including two members to
the Legislative assembly. At this time
it is questionable whether it is known
whether there is man in the democratic
party in Cascade county who will accept
an Office, or whether there are not fifty
men who certainly wish for the nomna-
ton for some one certain office.
1t is very nice and pretty talk to say
the "oflice should seek the man" But
offices don't chase men into corral now
a-days and rope them and fasten them
selves to them with diamond hitch.
1t is true that certain men by their pecu
liar fitness suggest themselves to the pub
lie for certain offices, and the public
is sometimes fortunate enough to secure
their acceptance to run. But these
instances, like angels visits, are ex.
tremey rare. Ifan Office is worth
anything to a man it is worth
seeking, just as any other honor
able position is worth seeking when a
man wants one. In this practical age it
is expected man shall rustic to get
what he wants.
1t is mistake to force a nomination
upon a man. In nine times out of ten,
if he be elected, he makes a mighty poor
officer and the party is injured by his in
difference, neglect or incapacity, The
man who asks for an office will work for
his election. The party wants workers
not dead weights to carry. Therefore it
is the better plan to give:the nomination
to the man who comes out squarely as an
aspiran. for it than to the man who be-
lieves he is bestowing great favor upon
his party by accepting it. We believe in
the announcement plan through the
press. Let men publicly announce their
candidacy, subject to the action Of their
party convention and fewer mistakes
will be made by nominating bodies. 1t
gives the people an opportunity to dis
cuss and to form an opinion of the quail
itications Of the asprants. Announce
ments are now in order