The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-10-09
POLITICALLY SPEAKING.

Philadelphia Bulletin: III the Repub-
lcan national committee at It's meeting
this month were to call the next presiden-
tianl convention for September. 1895. there
would be no serious objections raised by
anybody outside Of the circle of political
mendicants and strikers The men who
thrive on long presidential campaigns will.
of course, protest against any change
which would be likely to lessen the size OF
the ever-increasing compaign funds of the
two great parties or reduce their oppor-
tunity of throwing the country INTO ex-
element. Possibly a few old-fashionei
persons would murmur over the disap-
pearance of the prolonged season of mass
meetings. torch light paradeS and stump
oratory; but an overwhelming majority
of Intelligent men In all parties would well
come the innovation. In these days of the
telegraph, the railroad, the telephone and
the cheap newspaper there is no excuse
for maintaining the custom OF five or
six months canvass. In the two months
preceding presidential convention 1t Is
now possible to do all that Is required for
the enlightenment OF the voters as to can
didates and issues"
Chicago Times-Herald: "There Is need
of reform in the country as we'll as I'm the
city primary. 1t has too long been the
custom to allow three or four paid hire
lings of a legislative corruptionist to get
together in the back end Of saloon and
arrange secretly list of delegates to the
convention. Their names are printed on
ticket; the ballot box is opened In the post
office or some other convenient place;
there Is a pretense of adherence to regu-
lar caucus methods: a hundred or more
ballots are deposited in the box by citi-
zens who are persuaded by the heeler IN
charge of the box to do so, but who hardly
know what they are voting for. and care
less; and Senator So-and-SQ has the dele
CATION and. of course, Is finally renomi-
mated. That Is a country caucus.\ No
| wonder venal legislators are returned ev-
-. 49, a,,I
sive communities. This pernicious sys-
TEN should be changed. The people
should take charge of the caucuses them
Selves
Philadelphia Bulletin: "We spend too
much money every four years on little
army of political bummers and sharpers
throughout the country, ana accept 700
many absurd or mischievous excuses Tor
raising enormous funds. Business Is IN
jured by the excitement; much OF the tur-
noil Is mere wind and froth, ard large
portion of the canvass Is given up 20
backguarding and mud-fingtng and a
general eruption Of the sewer rats or pol
itics. 1t Is not venturing too much to say
that II the American people were left
solely to the ewspaDers for their 1nfor-
mation rs TO candidates and issues In 1896.
they would vote quite as intclligently ard
In as large q number as they would after
millions of dollars had been expended on
brass bands. torchlights. spouters, party
hacks and the tribe of camp followers and
boodlers that hang around the national
committees. The fact Is that the newspa-
pers in these days conduct a national cam
paign the year round.
Il II \
Chicago Tmes-Herald: Before pro-
ceeding to the election Of Republican
presidential candidate Messrs. Quay and
Platt should bear in mind the fact thnt
the people may possibly desire to be heard
on the subject"
Chicago Times-Herald: "There Is con-
scnsus of opinion to the effect that Mr..
Croker cannot keen too quiet for the good
of the New York Democracy"
Syracuse POST "In regard to PETERS
threat to retire to private life the impress
sion prevails that there Is no string tied
to him."
Chicago Times Herald: Another draw
back to the Morrison presidential boom is
It's long list of delinquent subscribers"