The Washington herald., 1908-06-26

fishing, In which the checks and bal
ances Of and between the executive, ju-
dicial, and legislative departments were
so nicely adjusted. But Congress soon
perceived that the electoral college was
amenable TO the popular will Therefore
II set about TO captain and command that
will. thus virtually giving Congress the
power TO name the President.
Political parties appeared in Congress
before lines were drawn among the peo-
pie. The Congressional caucus was the
result. From I7SS until 1900 the Presidents
were named by informal party caucuses
Of members of Congress The attacks on
King Caucus" were begun in the public
press as early as 1900 although the first
formally coSVoked nominating caucus was
not held until 1904. From that time until
lS24 king Caucus" ruled supreme and
the Presidents were. in fact, chosen by
the members OF Congress.
II that method of selecting party can
didates for President had prevailed. II is
from Monroe's time until now would not
contain a single name which It now bears
Congress had always looked az things
from a point OF view quite different from
that OF the voter 1t does not require
great mental agility 10 imagine that the
| present Republican members OF Congress
would not choose Mr.. Taft. or that tho
! Democrats in Congress might prefer an
other than Mr.. Bryan. Certain It is that
no Congressional caucus would have nom
| mated Theodore Roosevelt, Abraham Lin
col-, or Andrew Jackson
Ii was the certainty that a caucus
would not nominate Jackson that led TO
| the establishment or the convention sys-
/ TEN by the overthrow Of King Caucus" I"
IN 1922 the Tennessee legislature. by an
/ informal vote. placed the name Of Andrew
/ Jackson IN nomination for President
/ This established a precedent. and two
years later the legislatures OF various
States. by solemn and formal legislative
enactment, placed the names OF their IA
v0rte6 In nomination for the Chief Mag
lstracy.
When Jackson did become President he
\ recognized the power OF the political use
OF the patronage OF the office He used
this power 20 build up a machine. to
establish the convention system, and 20
! inaugurate present-day political party
methods. Every President since his day
]
| litical purposes, 20 an extent varying with
the personal characteristics Of the man In
| Office and the necessities Of the occasion.
Jackson forced the nomination OF his
/ Cabinet minister. Martin Van Buren. -
his successor. He used the Federal Of
hceholders 10 get the nomination for Van
Buren. Mr.. Roosevelt may have used
the oflceholders for a like purpose. and
the allies" may have cursed bitterly. but
they said the same things and breathed
the same curses which were heard when
Jackson was in the White House
The difference nowadays Is the lncreas-
ing Importance Of the primary. A direct
primary for Presidential nominations has
not been suggested seriously as yet Bu;
many States are already deciding tn,
question OF instructions 20 delegates by
primary. Mr.. Taft defeated Mr.. Roose-
welt IN the California Republican 2lebiscitt
this spring. Mr.. Bryan was given IN
structions by Wisconsin and Alabama b.
a popular party vote.
Complaints that delegates 70 conven-
tions are not left 20 30 their Will and tC
follow their judgment. but are driven un-
der the whip by the control Of the party
leader, arc often heard. Just at this tim,
Mr.. Roosevelt and Mr.. Bryan are called
the bosses of the two great parties
Yet a glance at the past will show tha
no party leader can control delegates n
a national convention 10 go against th'
VIII Of the masses Of the party. A leade
often can compel the delegates to q
B. against their own Will. If he has tht
masses on his side.
What did the power of the administra
ton amount 20 IN the convention 10 nomi
nate a candidate 10 succeed Arthur?
was used, but all in vain. Mr.. Cleve
land like Mr.. Roosevelt had very pro
nounced ideas about the civil service an,