Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-12-13
CAUCUS REFORM.
Call Issued for Meeting at
New York, Jan. AIS.
10 Take Measures for Correction Of
Errors in Our Caucus System.
The Call Signed BY Many Of the LEADING Men
Of the Country.

New York, Dec. 1.-THE call that
is subjoined was given out, tonight, by
Ralph M. Falsely, secretary of the Civic
Federation of Chicago, who has been
acting for large number Of reform
and quasi-political organizations, the
past three years. The object Of this
conference is to bring men with prac-
teal ideas from all the large cities and
especially from states where substan-
tial reformm has been made in caucus
reform. The programme will include
speeches from men of national reputa-
ton in both political parties as well as
reports from practical men as to tha
working of the various laws now gov
erning primary elections or caucuses.
Considerable attention will be given
to the question: How to get voters
out to the primaries, after fair laws are
secured?" Special interest will be
taken in reports from New York, Mas
sachusetts, Maryland. Illinois. New
Jersey and Ohio, whose legislatures
will then be In session and consider
primary election laws.
Headquarters will be opened at Hotel
Manhattan, Madison avenue and AID
street. Dec. 81, 1897. The call follows:
believing that our caucus or primary
election customs and laws lie at the very
root and source of our entire, elective
franchise system and that the riisrule OF
our larger cities Is due in large measure
to the defects in such practices and GUS
toms, therefore follows that to purify
this system Is to take long stop in the
direction of honesty, economy and effi-
cheney in every branch of the public SER
vice and further believing that the en-
actment or laws to prevent corrupt eau
Gus practices and throw the safeguards
of regular election around the caucus or
primary Will encourage many more good
citizens to take part therein. We the I'M
dersigned for the purpose of discussing
and discovering as far as possible the
precise defects in the various systems
which now obtain and their remedies,
and to take such action as may seem
wise in the premises. do hereby join in
calling conference of persons interested
in said question to convene in the city
OF New York on the 18th and 18th days
of January, 1898.
1--WE deem it desirable that the confer
ence be made up of men from all parts OF
the country and without regard to party
or factiOnal affiliations.
Dated New York. Dec. H. 1897.
(SigneD
Hewitt, ex-mayor; Oscar L.. Struss, ex-
to Turkey; Darwin R. James,
president Board of Trade: John E. Mil
holland; Elias Goodman, president Allied
y.
Albert Shaw: VIM. Brookslde:
Gustav Schwab: Cornelius Van Colt:
Murray Butler; Carl Schurz.
National Civic League; Dor
man B. Eaton; Frank J. Goodnow; B. G.
w. F. Wakeman, United
States appraiser. George X. McAney.
secretary National Civil Service League;
Edwin l.. Godkin; F. d. Pavey, state
senator. all of New York City. George w.
Brush, state senator, Brooklyn. N.
Buffalo b; Edgar N. L. y; 'ewf Henry may w.
Branded. chairman Republican county
committee; William II. Hotchkiss. Mark
;: Hubbel. Henry Altman. Charles J.
North. VIM. Barnes. Jr., of Albany. John
,. Montignan. o. F. Wilson, w. o. Still
nan. Willis G. Nash. j. ]. Myers, John
R. Commos. James r. Day, chancellor
Syracuse University: John Marcellus,
PRESIDENT Chamber of Commerce of Syra-
use; Lyman ]. Gage. secretary United
states Treasury. Chicago; Melville e.
stone. president Associated Press: VIM.
7. Baer. president Board of Trade:
thomas B. Bryan. president Union
league Club; Thomas F. Hoyne. presi-
ent Iroquois Club; r. G. Paulding. pres
dent Marquette Club: Jesse Holdom,
resident Hamilton Club; T. N. Jameson,
Republican committeeman: II.
3. Healy. president northwestern Uni
ersity; George A. Follasby president
Bar Association; Adolph Nathan. presi-
ent Civic Association; George E. Cole.
resident Municipal Voters League; e.
;: schell; nati0nal organizer Egworth
ion of Labor; VIM. NJ. Harper. Franklin
|. MacVaugh, thomas c. Macmillan,
.alph M. Falsely. VIM. M. Hollister, q.
;. Rush. Edward Insley. E. @. Keith. N.
j. Partridge. Luther Latin Mills. Law
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