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

So much for the Congressional caucus. Now
let us glance at the development of the nomi-
mating convention. which In the book before us
is exhibited by taking two States as examples,
namely. Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. In
the early days Of the republic nominations for
local officers and for State and national officers
chosen by districts were made at mass meetings
OF the party voters OF the town or district,
except where tho system of selt-announccd
candidacy prevailed. As population increased.
these meetings gradually developed into irregu-
lar conventions Of self-appointed delegates. and
thence into regular nominating conventions.
such as exist to-day. In Pennsylvania, as early
as the autumn OF 1889. we find that q meeting
of the Federalist voters OF Philadelphia WINS
held in the State House yard to nominate candi.
dates for the State Legislature. In 1894 can
didates for Congress and for members OF both
branches of the State Legislature for the county
OF Philadelphia were nominated lat n largo
and respectable meeting OF the freemen held Mt
Widow .Lephcrs in Germantown" evidently an
irregular county convention. Similar convcn.
tions were held In the other counties Of tho State.
at which u candidate for Governor was also some
times nominated. although the so-callcd nomi.
nation of n candidate for Governor was, in
reality, nothing but n ratification of tho action
OF n previous State legislative caucus. These
Irregular meetings of solf.appolnted delegates
soon developed into regular conventions com.
posed Of a fixed number Of delegates chosen Mt
primary meetings in tho various towns and
wards. For instance. in 1890, we read that Mt
a meeting OF citizens OF tho city OF Philadelphia
at Dunwoody's Tavern. n committee OF three from
each ward was appointed" to attend n county
convention to nominate a candidate for Senator.
In 1900 n Congressional District Convention
for the district comprising the counties Of Bucks.
Montgomery, and Wayne was held Mt Easton,
composed of fvo delegates from each county,
chosen by the County Convention. About tho
year last named. moreover. we begin to lind
public calls for these conventions In the news
papers. At first the calls were anonymous, but,
with the evolution of permanent party organiza.
lions. they came to be signed by tho Chairman
and Secretary OF tho different committees. Thus
1t is evident that, by the beginning of the pres
emit century. in tho case OF all elective officers,
except those voted for by tho people Of tho State
at large. the convention system WINS firmly es-
tablished in Pennsylvania on substantially the
same lines that we see to-day. AS for Mnssa.
chusetts, although during tho Revolution
airy period she had taken the lead in
political organization. nevertheless. during
tho years Immediately following tho adop.
tion of tho Constitution. she socms to
have fallen behind Pennsylvania in this
respect. In October. 1894, however,, ut q caucus
or the ltcpubncan voters OF inc Boston district.
DIR. jarvis was nominated as the Republican
candidate for Congress against Fisher Ames.
Mr.. Dallinger cites an ultra-F oderalist account
of a Republican Congressional Convention held
at Abingdon In 1898. In 1902 both the FEEDER
nlist and Republican parties held Congressional
and county Conventions In the different sections
of the State. and thenceforth the delegate
Convection seems to have been the prevailing
method of nomination for all district officers.
Gradually. as in Pennsylvania. with the growth
of party organization, the call for a Convention
camo to be issued by tho District or Town Com
mittee. In some instances tho committee seems
to have exercised the function Of nominating
the party candidate. but In such cases the nom
ination was subsequently ratified by a general
caucus OF the party voters OF the district.
We observe, lastly. with regard to tho officers
elected by tho people Of tho State at largo,
tho Governor and LieutenAnt-G Governor, for
instance. that the method OF nomination un-
dsrwent . curious evolution. During the