The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-04-03

not DeneVe large minority OF tnosc pres
ent had any idea what the system men
toned is. In theory it is perfect; IL
practice poor 1t works all right in the
country but not in the city. One speaker
had referred to the system now prevalent
where Zones controls the primary and
sets things up. The difference in the two
systems is that Clones sets it up in the
Crawford county system just as Jones did
in the primary system; it is still a matter
of Jones. . Crawford county system is
beyond doubt very expensive Now as
a matter of fact the speaker did not be-
lieye there was half the setting up" as
some would have you suppose. The
trouble is that the delegates will not stay
set up. He had seen the Crawford county
system tried in the city of Philadelphia
and at the end of year it was known
there as the sCraw fraud counting
system.
Ex-County Clerk Worrell did not think
the system would be good. He referred
to the recent election held in Mount Holly
under that system in which 915 Republi-
can votes were cast, leaving 2S5 of other
persuasion. At the regular election held
few weeks later, there were 1850 votes
cast and one of the Republican candidates
was defeated Under the Crawford coun-
ty system the big cities would have all
the advantage.
In bis remarks William II. Foley,
of Bordentown, said he thought the
leaders were better calculated to select
delegates for the benefit Of the party than
the voters were George N. Winner, of
Palmyra, thought this was one of the best
arguments advanced against the primary
system, as it showed very plainly the
necessity of putting curb on the bosses
and giving the people control. With some
knowledge of the mannerin which dele
gates are elected Mr.. Winner ventured the
opinion that the expense under the Craw-
ford county system would be very much
less than under the present system.
DR.. Adams. of Beverly, was in favor
of some change. The committee which
had just reported had evidently reached a
conclusion after considerable study and
after consultation with representatives of
the party. While there was good at
tendance at this convention there should
be plenty of time taken to consider this
matter. If the Crawford county system
will serve the people better than the pre-
sent system it be adopted
Ex-senator Parry asked for delay that
the desired change might be thoroughly
studied. He believed the people would
be satisfied if action was deferred. If any
system could be devised whereby honest
caucuses could be secured nobody would
ever be willing to go back to the system
abandoned.
Samuel W. Beldon, of Bordentown, was
opposed to both the original report and to
the substitute. He confessed his inability
to carry all the provisions of the report in
his mind and would like more opportunity
to study it. The resolution of Mr.. Hor-
ner makes declaration in favor of the
Crawford county system, but the speaker
could not make up his mind that it would
be good thing to adopS that resolution.
He could hardly brig himself to the idea
that any system would be desirable that
would allow the polling of twice the num-
Der of votes as would be cast at an cleo
ton. He believed it certainty that if
the Crawford county system were adopted
a poor man would not have any show in
primary against rich man. If man
in one large town should be popular in
other places no others need apply. The
new system would open the doors for
increased expenses to such an extent that
the proceedings would simply be bid for
illegality. He would warrant that the
right kind of man in the right way
(Which, by the way, would be the wrong
way), could if able to secure 900 votes in
township like Northampton, for instance
get 1900 in place like Burlington. This,
to his mind, was an argument in favor of
continuing the primary system, under
which, no matter how much the primaries
were packed, there would only be the del
egate representation. The statement had
been made that the Crawford county
system had been very successful in Glou-
cester county for 10 years. If SO good
there for that length of time why had it
not been adopted in other counties? He
also wanted to call attention to the fact
that Camden county had tried the system
and had abandoned it.
Mr.. Horner thought it would be impos-
sible for illegal voting to prevail under
the Crawford county system Any man
who vades the law regulating primaries
could be apprehended and punished. All
deprecate the use of money at elections
and he thought the new system would
come nearer than any other to abolish its
use at primaries At least it would dis
tribute more evenly. 1t was all nonsense
to talk about leaders being able to d ecide
what nominations should be made. 1t
once that the people will not calmly sub
NIT to nominations forced upon them
An amendment was then offered chang
ing in several particulars the original res
olution offered by Mr.. Homer. The first
section was entirely eliminated Section
2 was changed so that the date would be
April %. The fourth section was amend
ed so as to read prepare report embody-
ing a set of rules, &C., and change the
date to April 28.
A new section was added to read as fol-
lows: ssBe it further resolved that the
rules offered to-day and those prepared by
the new committee be presented to the
meeting of April 49,"
On these amendments Mr.. Atkinson, a
member of the committee, spoke. He
could not see why the representative body
at this convention could not settle at once
the question of the proper method OF elect
ing delegates or nominating candidates.
The committee had spent much time on
the rules and had invited Republicans
from all parts of the county to meet with
them and offer suggestions. No rules
would be perfect and the present COM
mittee would not be able to do any better
han they had already done After all,
the proper observance of all rules depends
upon the people. If the delegates elected