The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-04-28

choice Of few, and the few being those
favorable to one candidate.
t3l The choice 81 candidates BY COM
vention system Is a choice By delegates
subject to their personal pfeiudices by
which they are ever controlled They
represent the politicians responsible for
their election, and not the people as a
whole. Their voice in the convention Is
a voice OF the politician so responsible.
Thereby a rule OF the politicians, and
not rule Of the people, is encouraged
l4l 1t is out of harmony with the
basic principles Of every representative
government.
90 II offers q field for political fraud
and corruption. Ii offers the opportun-
ity for control 81 the policy Of the
state BY few men. ii made possible
and efectual the control Of the eovern-
ment Of this state By one corporation
for over thirty years II makes possible
the rule of the machine The machinery
it provides is complex and requires the
knowledge Of an expert to run it. That
expert Is the local political boss
40 Il has driven the people Of the
state to a don't earetwho-is.nomina
attitude and Il Is BY reason 0f flat fact
that TIE people have come TO understand
that the slick gentlemen who know the
game of politics are able under TIE cau-
ems system, to absolutely control the
nominations Of candidate for public Of
fee It Is therefore dangerous in the
extreme.
~ It is costly. The total expenses
Of delegates to conventions IS enormous
The amount paid By candidates for the
transportation Of delegates would SUR
prise vow Why should i candidate have
% pay the expenses 81 men 10 Do their
plain duty The poor man Is practically
barred from holding public office, because
he cannot pay the price which conditions
demand, Ia order to make q successful
campaign The selection Of candidates IS
limited to those who are able to conduct
such q campaign and transport delegates
To the convention. Is all virtue al abil-
ity to govern conferred in those who have
amassed WEALTH. The present system
has made gfafteF out 81 good men. One
would be surprised Al the number Of dei-
ccates elected who demand that thrir
expenses to state aad congressional e0n-
ventions he paid hx The candidate.
49, The convention which makes tho
selection 81 candidates Is rot q dcliber
ative body, and its work does NOT repre-.
sent the calm deIlbefRtioa which it de-
mands. Il does represent the superiority
Of means the political sagacity Of the
victor and the machine and testi-
m0nial to the power Of organized politics
in this state. Tie work Of the eonven-
tions Is the work Of delegates responsi
bic 10 politicians One important contest
usually engages their attention, The
other positions are handy and available
for trades and combinations.
Take typical state convention for
Illustration. The night before, the lobby
OF the popular hotel Is filled 20 overflow
ing. men erowding together talking ex-
citedly, figuring on tile probable outcome.
Rumors are plentiful. Faithful hanth-
men Of the candidates are circulating
in the crowd and stream Of delegates
are by them plotted to the headquarters
Of the candidates il rooms above In
these various headquarters the delegate
meets these candidates, who greet him
I'll longlost brother. The delegate Is
assured 81 their high esteem and regard,
praised and e0mplimented until be begins
to wonder why It is that he had 80
long escaped being sent to Congress, He
goes OH from headquarters to headquar
ters. Accommodating 4 stock Of cigars and
cheap praise until, tired BY exertions
he seeks bis rest.
Then IL is that the masters Of the situ-
alton are settling the matter q the selee-
ton 81 candidates Then II il THAT the
trades arc made, and THE plans for run
ming the convention ate perfected
In tile morning the delegate again finds