The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1897-10-21

/. Is our present caucus system on
the whole satisfactory, or does it need
improvement?
2. Ii not the best possible means for
making nominations, would the subeti-
tpaion of q primary election for the eau
Gus and convention be an Improvement,
and il SO, how?
3. Would such change be likely TO
result in the nomination OF more honest
or competen. men to Office?
4. Can you suggest any change in the
present caucus and convention system,
which in your opinion would be advan-
tageous to the people?
An analysis of the communications
published may be made as follows:
First: Those who are opposed to any
change in the present system or who De
lieve the proposed law will work no bene-
fit: Senators Lodge of Massachusetts,
and Hansbrou4h Of North Dakota; Elk
Senator Sawyer; Charles J. Bonaparte,
Baltimore lawyer and civil service refor-
mer; W. A. White, editor Emporia, Kan
sas, Gazette.
Second: Those who believe the pres
ept system is bad or unsatisfactory and
can be improved by a caucns or primary
election law, or, at least that it is worth
while to make the attempt; Josiah Quin-
! cy, Mayor of Boston; Fl. Clay Evans,
! Commissioner of Pensions; r. L. Godkin,
Editor New York Evening Post; Moor
| field Story, Boston, Lawyer and Vice
President Massachusetts Reform Clnb:
Binger Hermann, Commissioners General
Land Office; President Andrews, Brown
| University; James G. Garter, New York
city, lawyer. William d. Foulk, Indiana.
civil service reformer; w. r. Morrison,
Interstate Commerce Commissioner;
Pres Charles X. Adams, University CT
| Wisconsin; Congressman John ]. Jeu-
kins, Chippewa Falls. Wis: Congressman
Tbeo. O,ien, Milwaukee,; Senator Wei
lington, MARYLAND; Gov Pingree of Mich
igan; Joseph L, WheeIock, e iitor Pion-
eer Press, Minnesota; Joseph L. Bristow,
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General; A.
X. Mcclure, Editor Philadelphia Times;
Pres. Hutchins, University of Michigan;
Webster Davis, Assistant Secretary of
the Interior; o. L. SpauldiEg, Assistant
Secretary OF the reasury; W. e And
drews, Auditor OF the Treasury Depart
ment; Judge David B. Culberson, for
thirty years a congressman from Texas;
Alex. G. Botkin, late member of the re-
publican national committee from Mon
tana; John B. Harlow, member of the
United States Civil Service Commission.
Third: Those who believe that the
people have as good government, as ca
pable and as honest officials as they want
and as they deserve; that no system can
better this condition, GA stream cannot
rise higher than its fountain" etc, and
that the only practical method of improv-
ing our officials and government must
result directly from an elevation of the
people IN morals and in intelligence
Charles J. Bonaparte, Senator Lodge, ".
A. White, Editor Emporia, Kansas, Ga
zette and Senator Hansbrough.
Congressman Jenkins has plan of bis
own for cities and this added. if we I'M
derstand him, to the present system can
be allowed to stand for towns, counties,
assembly and senatorial districts, His
suggestions as to tie nomination of state
officers are not although clear. HIS pro
posal as to cities is to abolloh all municl
| pal officers and elect nine trustees, three
each year, making them responsible for
the entire business of the municipality
and empowering them to elect or appoint
all the subordinate officials required for
carrying on city government.
| 1t is easy to say, as some of these writ
ers do, that ''sooner or later every COM
munity obtains as good a government as
it deserves" that "our cities are misgov-
erned because our citizens are unworthy"
! that 1.-THE fact is the people are no better
than they are, and 1t is doubtful If they
can be improved by methods of election
machinery" that 1.-The difficulty Is the alb
solute indifference of the great majority
of people," that ''the American people In
city, state and nation get about the gov
ernmeut they want, and send about the
people they want to represent them, and
II they do not it is because they do not
make the effort" that ignorance and dis
honesty go together and no system of
party machinery will help very much, so
long as they control" 1t is easy also for
those who make these assertions to prove
them to their OVID satisfaction by turning
to hydraulics and reciting the old story
about the comparative level OF stream
and It's source. But people who can pnt
the whole philosophy of human govern
ment into a NUTSHELL are not trnst-
worthy. They assume that the stream is
already up to the level of it's source. and
that those who are endeavoring to i'm
prove the character and capacity of our
officials and government are ATTEMPTING
the impossible task of raising the stream
still higher. The great majority of those
who sent Ia answers to the questions. it.
should be noted, did not dispute that It
will help to raise the stream If the foun
tain can be placed on still higher plane
while denying that the stream and it's
source are already upon a level. The
thlnk 1t is question of bydrostatice
rather Than OF hydraulics They believe
the people will supply themselves with
better officials and better government if
hey can be enabled to work ont their
ideals.
Moorfield Story, of Boston, in a single
sAntepce opens to view the difficulty
which 1t IS held does not exist by those
who say the people at present are not