New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-24
SHORT PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS.

SHORT PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS.
Chairman Carter Is about TO issue call for a
meeting Of the Republican National Committee.
1t will probably be held within few weeks at
Washington Various topics, more or less impor
tant will come up 70" consideration but the one
in which public interest centres is the PROPOSE
ton to hold the next National Convention in
early fall instead Of in May or June. A dis
cussion Of this subject has been going on for
months. and as some Of the members Of the
committee have participated in It they are IA
miliar with the arguments that have been ad.
vanced and doubtless prepared TO act intelli-
gently In the matter
Probably the most enlightened party and pub
lie sentiment Is in favor OF the change. The
vast business interests Of the country like IL.
Everybody except the horde Of camp followers,
mercenary publishers strikers and "spellbind-
ers' who are for themselves. not the party, would
welcome the end OF the long campaigns that
have preceded our National elections These
wearisOme canvasses are relic or the days
when mails were transported on horseback,
when the railroad was an experiment and the
telegraph dream OF the scientists. They are
out Of place at present. They have been for a
long time Not in the last twenty-five years has
there been Presidential campaign that could
not have been advanageously begun three
months later than the conventions were held.
For this Nation Of thoughtful. selfreiant cti-
zens capable of graphing with any problem
promptly and intelligcntly. and blessed with
marvellous facilities for rapid communication
and the dissemination Of ideas. TO give mp six
months every four years TO the election Of a
President is unbusinesslike.
Clear-headed politicians who have had TO do
with National campaigns know how little is
done in the way Of effective. practical work dur
ing the summer months that follow the nomina-
ton Of candidates The members Of the new
committee appointed by the convention, meet
and organize An Executive Committee is
lected. Three or four weeks are spent before
this is done. Three four weeks more go by
before suitable headquarters are found. Three or
four weeks more pass before these headquarters
are properly equipped for business Meantime
the chairman and the secretary and a few Of
the active committeeman are receiving delega-
tions Of stump-spcakers political hacks as a rule.
who have failed In everything else. but who in
some unknown way manage 10 survive from one
campaign to another. Armed with letters from
party leaders. they swoop down upon the COM
mittec secure appointments 10 save the party
IN the close States pocket all the money they
can get out Of the chairman and start of on their
oratorical pgrimages. They are. for the most
part merely rancrs. They are not qualified TO
discuss the live questions Of the day properly,
and the audiences that they can get To listen
10 them during the hot summer evenings are
little benefited. The distribution Of dull. heavy
tracts and the Substituting Of UNCONVENTIONAL and
race papers occupy the rest of the committees
time Tens Of thousands Of dollars are spent
on what, in the current slang. has come 10 he
known as Committee Litcrature-not one page
in hundred Of which is ever read or serves
any purpose save to ill the multudinous waste
baskets Of the country. II Is money thrown
away So is the time that is spent in this sort
Of work, and yet it is this sort Of work that
takes up the first three or four months Of the
National campaign.
The Use of money in electOns-local. State and
Nationals one Of the evils with which the peo-
pie OF the United States have to deal at present.
Everything that will tend TO its abolition Is
desirable. No sensible man will deny that in
the Authorization Of National campaigns some
assistance will be rendered this good cause. EX-
penses begin with conventions and are kept up
till the polls close. Every hour is utilized by the
strikers and the corruptionsts. Reduce these
hours and their opportunities are curtaied.
Again, the holding Of National conventions in
| May and June makes it necessary 10 hold two
| State conventions in all the States in Presidential
years: one TO select delegates TO the National
| conventions, another 10 make nominations for
State officers. This Is in reality an unnecessary
proceeding. 1t could be avoided by making The
proposed change.
Another important consideration pointed out
by Mr. Bodkin, of Montana. who. with Mr.
Sutherland Of New-York has made the most
| important contributions TO this discussion. il
found in the action Of Congress. The session
preceding the National election has been prac
tically devoted TO President-making Little, II
any. important legislation is enacted until after
both the National conventions are held. This
abuse might be remcdcd. somewhat at least IL
Senators and Representatives were given to un-
derstand that nominations would not be made
until September, and that it would be necessary
| for them To conclude their labors before Prcsl-
dental candidates were chosen.
As 10 the argument that long campaigns are
needed for educational purposes. 1t is proper 10
say that the political instruction Of voters in this
| country does not devolvc upon National COM
mittccs or State committees or county commit.
| tees. but upon the press, whose work goes on
| constantly. The canyasser may organize and get
out the vote: the stump-spcaker may stimulate
his hearers and the orator may rouse The party
| enthusiasm, but the task Of calculating party
principles. publishing the important speeches OF
| the day and building up the voters I'm the party
faith must be performed by the newspapers, and
by the newspapers That need no Assistance. fnan-
cid or Intellectual. from any party committees