Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1904-06-24
NO.. 6
The Convention System.

II there Is any peculiarly American
Institution, II is the nominating con-
vention. The national gatherings so
soon to convene are different from any
thing on the earth. They are growth
Of the new soil and the new time. The
past knew nothing resembling them,
and even now they are unknown in
Europe. In the United Kingdom the
prime minister is never chosen by a
party convention. The king selects for
the position the leader of the party
dominant in the house of commons.
This leadership is not usually the re-
suit of arbitrary selection. 1t is the
natural outcome of long service on the
part Of a member who has proved him
self 81 ready debater. and a man of
executive ability. Disraeli. Gladstone
and Salisbury claimed their premier
ships without the Intervention of party
conventions. The president of France
is elected by the senate and chamber of
deputies. and the president of Switzer-
land is also parliamentary selection.
The British colonies have adopted the
English scheme in preference to the
American.
The convention system is an inven-
ton rather than a natural product of
evolution. 1t was stumbled on by acci-
dent in Pennsylvania, was adopted in
New York and then spread over the
country. 1t is one of the few American
from England or devised by the franz
ers of the constitution. In the south
where the old families dominated. can
didates merely announced themselves.
Few aspired to official position and
there was no difficulty from multiple
ity of nominees. In the north the eau
Gus usually determined the nomina-
tions, but 1t was not representative
assembly. Only a few of the leaders
were admitted. The mass Of the vot-
ers, north and south, had nothing to
say about the selection of candidates.
Washington was chosen president by
unanimous consent. But when party
lines were drawn after his retirement
the congressman naturally assumed the
part of managers, and the congressional
caucus came into existence.
Several presidents were nominated
by caucuses of congressman, but the
scheme proved unsatisfactory. Ii tend
ed toward the English system Of parlia
mentary CONTROL since the congressman
naturally bargained with their nomi-
nees. Madison, for instance, was forced
to submit to the congressional dictation
the price of his second election. When
at last the nation became sufficiently
welded to take an intelligent interest
in national affairs the people revolted
against congressional nominations and
took matters into their own hands. The
first instrument used to break the pow
er of the caucus was nomination by
state legislature. John Quincy Adams
and Andrew Jackson were both put
before the electorate by the action Of
the various state assemblies. In 1882
the first national convention was held.
Twenty-four years previously the
dominant party in Pennsylvania had
called legislative caucus to nominate
a candidate for governor. Its op-
ponents had also called a caucus, but to
make up for deficiencies In representa-
ton in the legislature the Outs" in
vited their supporters In unrepresented
counties to send delegates to the con
vention." The two factions We're call
ed "Constitutionalists" and "Conven-
tionalists." This was the first nomi-
mating convention ever held In America.
New York and other states took up the
scheme and elaborated it. By 1924 the
Democrats Of Lancaster county, Penn
sylvania, were suggesting in a resolu-
ton that presidential nominations
ought to be made by "a convention of
delegates from all states in the union"
But they added regretfully that the
immense extent Of the country made
the scheme impracticable. The diff
ficulties in transportation were disap-
pearing with the construction of rail-
road lines, so that by 1882 the con-
vention was held successfully.
The advantages of the innovation
were so apparent that it was at once
accepted. Since 1886 every presidential
candidate has been nominated by ma
tional convention. Certain details of
the scheme of representation have been
altered, but the essential principles Of
the system remain the same as those
adopted seventy-two years ago.
John d. Rockefeller said that his
wife attended church for eighteen
years without having a soul speak to
her. People who wall themselves off
from their fellows, even by barricade
of wealth, must not complain Of their
isolation.