The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-12-07

4 Il party caucus. particuiar-
lv of caucus of Republic
can members of the Legislature to Sc
lcct a nominee for United states SEN
ator is proceeding in the press OF the
state. with opinions varying in refiec-
ton of every hue of factional preJu-
dice. Let us. therefore, examine this
interesting and timely subject judic-
tally.
To begin with, it may be set down
as generally conceded that political
PARTIES are necessary to the orderly
and sustained operation of govern
mcnt. There is no limit and should
be no limit to the number of these
parties. The right of a citizen to join
with other citizens in formation of a
new party is interchangeable ana
wholesome as means Of expressing
different shades of public opinion.
But where sharp differences of opin-
ion or of personal choice exist within
the membership of political party
and recourse to a new party Is not
adopted. it is plain that methods Of
reaching conclusion must be taken
and these. by custom, are clearly de-
fined. If the difference is over the
choice for nominee for an elective Of
flee the party primary is utilized and
the choice of the largest number Is
legally entitled to have his name APP
pear on the official ballot as the regu-
lar party nominee. The law does not
compel those who in the primaries
favored minority candidates to vote
at the ensuing election for the plural
ity's choice hut it recognizes the right
of plurality to determine party Gre
dentials and there is widely OBJ
served custom of viewing unfavorably
the citizen who, after participating in
primary and being fairly cutvoted.
thereupon proceeds to attack the plu-
rality's choice.
Where the office to be filed is elec-
tive by Legislature, as in the case of
the United States senatorship, the law
is entirely silent as to preliminary
methods of arriving al q concurrence
of party support hut long-establshed
custom has ordained the party caucus.
which is a conference of the members
of q party to choose from among the
nominees placed before it one name
to be presented as the choice of the
whole party. This has been found de-
sirable to expedite the public business
by doing away with prolonged ballot
ing in joint legislative session. 1t COR
responds in principle to the party pri-
mary or the nominating convention
and Is IL recognition Of the right of
the majority in given party to de-
termine the policy and select the cam
didates of that party.
Those who. as in Pennsylvania at
this time, denOunce the caucus be-
cause knowing it to be in the control
of their opponents offer in lieu Of it
no plan of unifying party choice save
the proposition. manifestly untenable,
that the majority should bow to the
ing with members of the opposition
party to defeat the expressed will of
the majority of their own party, is
revolutionary and if sanctioned would
invite the complete destruction of
party organization. All organization
of party effort rests uron the theory
of majority rule. That, also, is the
foundation stone of American govern
ment, TO hold that a minority may,
without sacrifice of party standing
or protest from citizens favorable to
regularity, on invented rreteXts un-
dertake by fusion with political oppo-
nents to defeat the majority of it's
own party and thereby disrupt that
party is to open wide the door to
political anarchy.
This issue in importance rises far
superior to questions of personal
preference or factional inclination. 1t
goes 10 the vitals of party Conference
ana beyond that to the heart of rep
resentative government. II must be
decided in Pennsylvania deliberately
apd advisedly and the decision must
he determinative for years to come.