The San Francisco call., 1898-08-02
WORDS. OF WISDOM.

CTC HE commonest form of insanity known TO- poll tics is that: which rlpes its victim to assume that by capturing nominating convention, ne is sure of election by the people To this mama may be attributed for the most part the mistakes of party politics, and to hold it responsible tor ali o that oo noxious species of political management called Doss- ism which is really leadership, IS not unreasonable No aspirant for political honors need be blamed for thinking himself the most popular earth and the especial charge of Providence and the people; but there never was any for political oonven ton assuming that nomination by fair means or foul is equivalent to: election
 Under the old ballot system control of the works did 1t Is true signify something: The political parties placed in the hands of their followers printed list o candidates and If their conventions interspersed the list with few strong the effect the voters was favorable In effort to get the good men into otce the people usually voted the entire collection yel- low dogs" and all But this system has become obso- lete The Government at considerable expense now places in the hands of voters an official ballot bearing the names of all the candidates of all the parties, It also supplies them with rubber stamp and private booth in which make their selections It also for bids the bosses to go the booth, and provides penalties for those who attempt interfere with the secrecy of the marking process F Under this system the form of political insanity to
 
 The fact that it still prevails indicates that the po eians like the Bourbons, slow to learn. However there is excuse for making further mls- Etakes. Republicans now understand the game that has heretofore been played upon them by the Demo- crats While the former have been selecting candi- dates from the ranks of unpopular stawartS or yield lingto the demands of the friends of weak yellow ldog candidates-under the impression that nomina- tios are equivalent to electionsthe latter have been l:puting forward their strong and popular men. As the people vote most numerously for nominees in | whom they have confidence and with whom they are acquainted naturally under this practice the Demo- crats have been eectng the greater number of men. This thing; however, should be stopped at once. Es The Republicans must put forward from this on their best candidates. In other way can they per manently wrest the State government from the con Etrol of the Democracy No further attention should be paid to the personal demands of the yellow dogs and their friends It is no argument to declare that L4yeow dogs" are. often good fellows, estimabIe ct- zens and honest men. They cannot be elected and that is sufficient.
 Ii premium is put upon political reputation, which is bound to result from the system of voting now in vogue the time will soon come when available and
 lptegnabe candidates for every office in State city will be as numerous in the Republican party as flies i'll fly time The breeding of popular Republican politicians will become regular industry, and the Government will just naturally fall into their hands as it now falls out of the hands of the yellow dogs With whom the party goes down to defeat at nearly every electon*