The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1910-04-29

Tn n preyious article, attention was eau
"A to The nomination of public ofhcers py
d;rect vote. The plan was explained ana
- Was shown where the idea has been aa-
~. 81 is...he purpose OF this article 70
csncns and convention sysiss.c1t!!ons 10 the
The method now employed is nothing
moro than a custom The trainers OF our
state constitution did not provide meth
I'd of ascertaining the will of the people
in tho matter of nominations so we have
dr;ftad in common with other states into
Tho nresent custom of doing so by way
of caucus delegate system, recognized In
a way by statute. ,.,,,
n nnarent. we were, in the early days OF ITS
uee able to get along fairly well under u,
hacanse the minds Of the people. were IN
hose days, kept keenly attuned to the
noI;t;cal conditions. Great questions were
Engaging their attention. The great Civli
war and the resulting problems Of recon
structiop, and the great commercial devei'
Of the nation and the, problems
Connected Herewith, all served TO keep
nm the interest of the people in pubic mat.
ters But these later years, the age OF
Combinations, of uniting certain lines OF
business under gigantic trusts carried TO
an extent characterized by the ATTORNEY
General in his recent speech IN onicagT az
Follows: "Whose extent and unchecked
growth threatened the. stability OF iree
Institutions" have developed the real dan
nor If the further continuance OF the sys-
'e Tet us consider the objections to the
present method: ~ 1t subjects inc ne
pboice of the people to the controi u
certain rules. A candidate must carry ms
own or county to stand any snow ~ .n1
county or state convention. Local Jeai-
,usies serve many times to preVent III
oeople from having. the services OF apae
men in public positions; II mas g ,xenn
certain effect to the mountain rue,
This is in effect, geoMaphica TUE "m meu
sas On able man. the best man for the posi-
t;on a. Int the republican party cannot
ao; ;nota him because he does not 1--we
a ,'hnrn he ought to live. If he lived else
rhare we might call him to the puDnc
,erv;ce" The choice Of the people is
harehv limited. In no other state mas
Nc dangerous rule gained such strength
j i, onr state. Is ability and quailhcation
- !, Office a thing which shifts from the
~ n the west side of the state every
We years? -.
% It promotes the conduct OF an IN
crru,,ulous pre-convention campaign. IN
rdeR to wage successful campaign, .ne
audi$late for governor must n have repre-; e
sntatiyes in every county. That man Is
he coilnty sboss," as far as that candidate
, ~ concerned. He goes over the county
rom time to time, keeps in touch WIN v:
lW situation, keeps the boys IN mne'
Gins to|plan the conduct of the caucuses,
nd nd altar the caucuses are held sees
hat ali delegates favorable to his ca an;r
,ade are sent to the convention, and Ineir
a are paid if necessary. He knows tne
anne Of pplitics so far as his county ~
a ars He is resourceful to the e.: END Q,
Tim ott;nc ont to the caucus only his own
ets;ners ana henchmen. He Is past mas Ths
g. n The ara of caucus manipulation. Inc
~ Of conducting these campaigns
1 nr;nC the past twenty-five years has ser #
od AZ to materially lower the standard q
g., ur nolitical morality. The campaign y
III III pponducted with a view to allowing
II the neople TO express their Wlsn, ous
l;th 'n q view of combining the election .S OF
, eieaates to the choice Of a few ana 'ne