The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-02

violent terms a. "inexpodicnt, impolitic, and
against the spirit OF tho Constitution" Similar
resolutions were adopted by the Legislatures OF
Maryland and Alabama. On the other hand, tho
system was defended by legislative caucusos OF
tho Republican members In Maine and Virginia.
In addition to the hostile action OF certain State
Legislatures. mass meetings Of tho people wero
held all over the country, at which resolutions
woro passed denouncing the caucus system and
calling upon mombcrs Of Congress not to attend
such o cAuous, in 1924. Strengthened by this
outburst Of public sentiment, the LAUNDERING
opposition in Congress itself broke out with
renewed rieor. Early in January. 1924, fourteen
Of the Republican members from Pennsylvania
issued an address to their constituents giving
their rcasons for refusing TO attend a Congress
sional caucus, although, unlike thor colleagues
from other Statos, many of .hem had not boon
instructed TO that effect. Toward tho end OF
January. 1924, according TO John Quincy Adams,
Mr.. 1ngham of Pennsylvania called n meeting
to form an anti-caucus organization. at which 1t
was voted to canvass both houses Of Congress
in order to ascertain the sentiment OF the men,
bers on the caucus question. BY the LIST of
February 1t became evident that n large mo
jority Of the members were opposed to tho hold
ing OF q caucus. and that they would not attend
ono, IL hold. Tho friends Of William II. Craw.
ford, however. were determined that such
q meeting should be held. and n call was
issued on Feb. .. signed by eleven members
OF Congress. In accordance with this call,
a caucus took place on the evening OF
Feb. II, in tho Representatives chamber.
Out Of 216 Republican members, only 90
attended. practically all of whopi were
friends Of Mr.. Crawford; and that gentleman
received all except four Of the votes cast fora
candidate for President. It is to DO noted that
the old Federalist party was now almost entirely
extinct. and that all the members of Congress-,
with the exception Of n few from some OF the old
Federalist States, were nominally members OF
the Republican party. The caucus OF 1924 issued
an address to the Republicans of the United
States defending tho system and urging them to
support the caucus nominee, but II was manifest
that the Congressional caucus systom was a
moribund institution. At the election in No
vcmbcr the people repudiated 1t at tho polls, and
no serious attempt was ever made to revive 1t.
In tho campaign Of 1923, which was begun al
most Immediately after the Inauguration OF
Adams. the candidates were nominated by State
Legislatures. State legislative caucuses. public
meetings.. and regular conventions Of tho peo-
pies Of the several States. In 1882, through i'm
proved means OF transportation. this confused
and amorphous system OF State nomination gave
way to the National Convention. which is in
vogue to-day.
Our authors final comment on this dcfunct
institution Is discriminative and just. Adopted
at the time of the bitter struggle between the
Republican and Federalist parties rs the only
method OF uniting q national
party upon a single candidate, the Congress
sional caucus was tolerated by tho people
so long rs 1t resulted in tho nomination
of abio men; 30 long as it followed and did
not attempt to lead public opinion. Just as
soon, however. MS 1t presumed to dictate to the
people, the people discovered that they had no
voice in the nomination, and thereafter the
systom was doomed. The friends of jackson,
Adams. and Clay were quick to seize upon tho
growing unpopularity Of the system, and to
turn it to the disadvantage OF Crawford. their
common rival. who relied for success solely
upon the caucus nomination. The down
fall of the system was FASTENED by
the oblitcration OF party lines and by the
fact that the caucus candidate was the least
popular OF the four aspirants for the Presidency.
Again, one failure to unite the party upon q
single candidate was sufficient to destroy a sys-
tenn which had been tolerated only for its sup.
posed efficacy in accomplishing that result.
During the years 1922 and 1928 tho people be-
came accustomed to new and more democratic
modes Of nomination. and it was against the
nature Of things that they should DO content
with the old oligarchical method of Congress
sional dictation. In Mr.. Dallinger's opinion. II
we look at the Congressional caucus In the light
of history, the wonder Is not that the system foil
in 1924. but rather that, for so many years. 1t
retained the power Of disposing Of the highest
office In the gift of the American people.