Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1910-04-29


fers Field for Corruption and Makes
erafters out of Good Men.
Editor OF The Phoenix:
In previous article attention was
called to the nomination of public Off
GERS by direct vote The plan was ex-
planned and it was shown where the
idea has been adopted. 1t is the purpose
Of this article to set forth some of the
. objections to the caucus and convention
system.
The method now employed is nothing
more than custom. The trainers of our
state constitution did not provide a
method of ascertaining the will of the
people in the matter of nominations, so
we nave drifted in common with other
states INTO the present custom of doing
so by way of caucus delegate system,
recognized, in a way, by statute
Nhue the evils of the system were
CSdppdrent, We were, in the early
avs Of its use, able to get along fairly
veil under it, because the minds of the
people were, in those days, kept keenly
attuned to the political conditions. Great
questions were engaging their attention.
the great Civil war and the resulting
Z problems of reconstruction, and the
great commercial development of the
nation and the problems connected there
WITH all served to keep up the interest
of the people in public matters But
these later years, the age of combina-
tions, Of uniting certain lines of business
under gigantic trusts carried to an ex-
tent characterized by the attorney
general in his recent speech in Chicago
! as follows: Whose extent and UNI
4 checked growth threatened the stability
Of free Institutions" have developed the
real danger of the further continuance
OF the system.
Let us consider the objections to the
present method:
% 1t subjects the choice of the peo-
pie to the control of certain rules A
candidate must carry his town or county
to stand any show in the county or state
convention. Local jealousies serve many
times to prevent the people from having
me services OF able men in public posi-
tons 1t has given certain effect to the
mountain rule" This is, in effect, a
geographical rule which says in sub
stance, The candidate may be an able
man, the best man for the position, but
the Republican party cannot nominate
MIN because he does not live where he
ought to live. If he lived elsewhere
might call him to the public service"
4 he choice of the people is thereby limit
In no other state has this dangerous
4 lie gained such strength as in our state
ABILITY and qualification for office n
ing which shifts from the east to the
Z 81 side of the state every two years?
II promotes the conduct of an
'!SGdlJus; u S-csScvention campaign.
rder to wage SUCCESSFUL campaign,
candidate for governor must have
Z esentatives in every county That
is the county boss" as far as that
I NJ 'ildate is concerned. He goes over
county from time to time, keeps in
IN with the situation, keeps the
VS. In line helps to plan the conduct
the caucuses and after the caucuses
ffef held sees that all delegates favorable
his candidate are sent to the conven-
fs4l, and their expenses paid if necessary
Hs'F KNOWS the game of politics so far as
f unity is concerned. He is resource
WV the end OF getting out to the
caucus only his retainers and henchmen.
He is past master in the art of caucus
manipulation. The method of conduct
ing these campaigns during the past
20 years has served to materially lower
the standard of our political morality
The campaign is not conducted with a
view of allowing all the people to ex-
press their wish. put with a view of
conhning the e'ection of delegates to the
choice of few and the few being those
{ 'vorable to me candidate.
Ce0 The choice of candidates by con-
ntiOl system is a choice by delegates
oie;i 70 their own personal prejudices
which they are controlled They
srrssalt the pofHcans responsible for
er election, any not the people as a
iole Their voite in the convention is
a 70 ,ce Of the politician so responsible
TherebSg a rule Of the politicians, and
not a ruie>of The people, is encouraged.
(D 1t is out Of harmony with the
basic principle OF every representative
government,
60 It offers a field for political fraud
and corruption. 1t offers the opportunity
for a control of the policy of the state
by fey men. 1t made possible and
the control of the government
state by one corporation for over
lrs 1t makes possible the rule of
me. The machinery it provides is
lex and requires the knowledge of
n expert to run it. That expert is the
zeal political "boss."
(6l - has driven the people Of the
- 1on't-care- who is nomi-
and it is by reason of
ne people have come to
the slick gentlemen
lme of politics are able
rs system, to absolutely
ainations of candidates
=. 1t is therefore dan
xtreme.
fly. The total expenses
conventions is enormous
aid by candidates for the
of delegates would sur
ny should a candidate have
penses of men to do their
poor man is practically
public office because
pr price which condi-
priier to make a sue
he selection of can
those who are able
mpaign and trans
conventions. Is
to govern, centred
assed wealth? The
made grafters out
fGould be surprised
gates elected who
enses to state and
ms be paid by the
which makes the
is not a deliber-
SHk does not repre-
Sttion which it de-
sent the superior
tical sagacity of
'achine, and is a
paid wer of organized
ExtThe work Of the
of delegates re-
H One important
their attention.
BAablnailons,a ''1
HIte convention for
before. the lobby