Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-01-26
HOW CONVENTIONS ARE FIXED
Railroad Pass Distributors Pack Delega-
tons in Advance with Friendly IniunL
CITATIONS FROM LATE POLITICAL HISTORY
why the Nomination of Candidates
by Direct Primary Vote wouid
Re a Great Improve
ment.

The argument is made that the delegates
to a convention represent a constituency
better than the constituents could repre-
sent themselves II the latter were per-
mitted to vote directly in the nomination
OF candidates. This carries with 1t the
further argument that 1t is all right for a
delegation to go to county or state con-
vention, and by some advantageous trade
arranged over night. secure the nomination
of candidate of whom their constituents
never heard. Just how this can represent
tho wishes of a constituency can never be
explained.
The plain facts are that the convention
system never has been what IT pretended to
he. and the persons who attend as delegates
represent the people at home as little as do
some OF the legislators. The man on the
ground takes unto himself all the political
wisdom and power, and II the people at
home had the chance to demonstrate with
him, he would be sure to send back word
that he knew what he was doing" which
is poor kind Of satisfaction.
whole system Farce.
TO show what a farce the whole system
has been IL is only necessary to give some
facts about the last republican state con-
ventlon. II will be conceded that prior to
the convention a great amount of interest
was aroused in the counties, and that a
number Of county conventions adopted reso-
buttons instructing their delegations. This
would go far toward making an ideal state
convention. II the delegates selected would
attend and carry out the instructions
There comes the main trouble
The machine politician cares very little
for resolutions or instructions. Last year
this class had orders to send delegates who
would nominate certain man for supreme
Judge. They were instructed to keep out
resolutions where they could safely. but to
look after the delegations i'm any event.
The result was natural. While the farmers
were busy passing anti-pass resolutions,
the professional pass holders were selecting
delegates who would go to the convention
and vote for a corporation candidate. Some
farmers from the back precincts were al
ways selected with the full knowledge that
they would not pay fare and expenses to
attend the state convention.
So the convention met at Lincoln with
less than half of the actual delegates pres
emit The rule against proxies was openly
ignored Anyone who was present from the
county. or who had lived in the county
prior to taking up residence in Lincoln,
was invited to occupy seats. Many of the
county bosses made up their credentials
after they arrived in Lincoln so they coulo
put In the names OF the men who had at
tended. Whether they had been selected az
delegates by the home people cut no figure
The machine men were sure of who they
we're and why and how they had come to
Lincoln.
There was nothing new about this method.
Tho scheme had always been worked the
same way. The seats In the delegations
that would otherwise have been vacant,
were filled by outsiders and invited friends,
who voted and shouted as loud as any body
else whenever they were given the cue ,
How Convention Was PADDED.
To show the exent of this padding pro-
cess the following twenty-five counties
ere taken at random, indicating the number
OF votes each was entitled to in the con-
vent'on, and the number Of persons who
actually attended delegates: