The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-07-08
THE NOMINATION Of A
PRESIDENTIAL CAND|DAT T
1t Used to Be Done in a Congressional Caucus,
but Andrew Jacksons Friends Brought
About Change.

candidates for president had prevailed
it is a safe bet that the list of presi-
dents from Monroe S time till now would
not contain single name which it now
bears. Congress has always looked at
things from a point of view quite diff
ferent from that of the voter. 1t does
not require great mental agility to
imagine that the present Republican
members of Congress would not choose
Mr.. Taft, or that the Democrats in Con-
gress might prefer another than Mr.
Bryan. Certain it is that no Congress
sional caucus would have nominated
Theodore Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln
or Andrew jackson.
1t was the certainty that a caucus
would not nominate Jackson that led to
the establishment of the convention
system by the overthrow of "King
Caucus In 1922 the Tennessee Iegls-
1ature by an informal vote placed the
name of Andrew Jackson in nomination
for president. This established prec-
edent, and two years later the legis-
latures of various states by solemn and
formal legislative enactment, placed the
names of their favorites in nomination
for the chief magistracy.
When Jackson did become president
he recognized the power of the political
use of the patronage of the Office.
He used this power to build up a
machine, to establish the conven-
tion system and to inaugurate pres
ent day political party methods.
the power of patronage for political
purposes, to an extent varying with the
personal characteristics of the men in
office and the necessities of the occasion.
jackson forced the nomination Of his
cabinet minister Martin Van Buren,, as
his successor. He used the Federal Of
fee holders to get the nomination for
Van Buren,. Mr.. Roosevelt may have
used the othce holders for a like purpose,
and the 'allies may have cursed bit
terly, 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 in
creasing Importance of the primary A
idrect primary for presidential nom1-
nations has not been suggested serious
ly, as yet. But many states are already
deciding the question of instructions to
delegates by primary. Mr.. Taft de-
feated Mr.. Roosevelt in the California
Republican plebiscite this spring. MIR.
Bryan was given instructions by Wis
consin and Alabama by popular party
vote.
Complaints that delegates to conven,
tions are not left to do their will and
to follow their judgment, but are
driven under the whip by the control
of the party leader are often heard.
Just at this time Mr.. Roosevelt and Mr..
Bryan are called the ''bOsses - of the
two great parties. Yet glance at the
past will show that no party leader can
control delegates at a national conyen-
ton to go against the viii of the masses
of the party. A leader often can compel
the delegates to 60 against their own
will if he has the masses on his side.
What did the power of the admins
tratlon amount to in the convention to
nominate a candidate to succeed Ar
thur? 1t was used, but all in vain. Mr..
Cleveland, like Mr.. Roosevelt, had
very pronounced ideas about the civil
service and "pernicious activity in
politics; but they did not prevent the |
power of the Cleveland office holders |
from being used in conventions. What |
did it amount to in Chicago in 1896 |
after Mr.. Bryan brought in the cross
of gold and the crown of thOrns?
There was a time when the national |
conventions met without anyone s be- |
ing able to forecast the outcome. There |
would be a dozen candidates to start |
with, and frequently a dark horse would |
win. 1t was exciting, it was interest
ing. but it was not always for the best.
The delegates had much more freedom |
than they have in these latter DAYS, it |
Is true, but the very nature of a con-
vention prevents true deIiberation.
Delegates left unhampered by instruc-
tions are apt to be swayed bv the most
artificial devices, they are very unlike
~ to consider the genuine needs Of the
party and country.
After awhile the people began to
object to the Introduction of so many
dark horses. Instructions to deleya-
tons became more frequently the ex-
preston of the opinion of the party in
a state as to the relative merits of the
leading aspirants; less frequently a
compliment for favorte son and a
basis for trading and dark horsing. -
The primary election has given the yot,
ers control of the nominations for
smaller offices, and they are reaching
out to control the greatest of them ali. |
h'S - the iedooH the national cOnEen |
lions have become but ratification
meetings which formally register the
viii of the party
The tendency toward vesting more
power IN the primary means a great
change IN American politics. Until this
time the greatest interest has been in
taking sides with some aspirant and
aiding him to work the machinery in
the direction of ''getting the nomina-
ton. If the present tendencies are
carried out, the interest in the future
Will be changed to the business of tax
ing sides with some idea Of aiding in
the work of making the nomination. -
An expert golfer had the misfortune