The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-06-28

trict presents an interesting
study Of the conferee system of making
party nominations. Wayne and Sus-
quehanna, with four conferees apiece.
had been striving for some time to
nominate a candidate for state senator
and after repeated adjournments met
last Monday in Susquehanna. Inasmuch
as there has been conflict Of testimony
as to what happened at this meeting,
we give below the version vouched for
by the HOnesdale Citizen:
LAS related by the Wayne conferees,
the representatives of the two counties
being unable to agree on a candidate.
numerous propositions for an adjourn
ment We're made ON the part of Wayne,
which We're voted down by Susque-
hanna. Finally. at about o'clock on
Tuesday afternoon. after some inef
fectual balloting. William A. Bleck, Of
Wayne. chairman OF the conference.
asked If there was any further business
to be taken up: and. no response being
made, he declared the conference ad-
journed to meet at the Allen house,
Honesdale, on Monday. June 80. ut . y.
m., and thereupon the Wayne cOnferees
left for home. Later, it appears. j.
Ben. Robinson. Of Wayne, accepted an
invitation to join the Susuuehanna con-
ferees, and, on a ballot being taken,
voted for the nomination of Colonel
Pratt, the Susiuehanna candidate.
MIR. Robinson was not Il conferee OF
Wayne. The Wayne county convention,
besides nominating Mr.. Riefler, author
ized him TO select the cOnferees to rep
resent the county. He accordingly Sc
lected William A. Bleck. G. NJ. Betz. II.
n. Farley and T.. II. Cortright. They
accepted the appointment and acted as
conferees. At the first meeting of the
cOnferees, at Susquehanna, Mr.. BetZ,
being unable to remain after the first
day, substituted l.. NJ. Atkinson, and
Mr.. Atkinson next substituted Mr.. Rob-
inson. AT the meeting on Monday, the
original conferees were present, and
acted as such. At the close of Mon
days session, Mr.. BetZ, being again un-
able to remain, substituted n. r. Spen-
Ger, who acted as his substitute during
Tuesdays sessions. and until the ad-
journment declared by Chairman Bleck.
Thus Mr.. Robinson was entirely with
out authority to represent Wayne in
the conference. If his power was not
exhausted at the close of the sessions
for which he was substituted 1t was
wholly superseded by the return of Mr..
Rat tn ha ll "a
substitution of Mr.. Spencer in place of
Mr.. Robinson
"Whether Chairman Beck's declara-
ton of adjournment operated AS IA valid
adjournment, is not material. The with
drawal of the Wayne conferees left the
conference either dissolved or without
Il quorum, and in any aspect without
power to make a valid nomination, or
to do anything but adjourn. The Sus-
quehanna conferees who remained had
then no more power to cal In Mr.. Rob-
inson. and make a nomination, than to
call in II tramp, or four tramps, to rep
resent Wayne and bind her by such
action. A nomination for senator by
the district, yet remains to be made,
and until it is made by conferees duly
authorized to make 1t, the senatorial
ticket remains vacant"
This version may have Il Wayne tinge
to it; no doubt it has. We do not re-
fer to the matter with view of taking
sides. 1t is simply interesting as giving
force to the need of a revision of our
system of making party nominations.
The one sure way TO prevent conference
deadlocks is to nominate by direct vote
at II uniform primary. Then it will be
for the majority of the voters to choose
their representatives and when the vote
has been polled it will be merely "a
matter of mathematics.