The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-02-09

system in New York in the same man |
-ner as the little harnesses and little |
Mnrpfys are seeking TO retain it |
elsewhere.
Governorship on Auction Block.
It makes necessary an nnscrupulous |
pre-convention campaign. During the |
last % years a majority of our govern
ors have been selected only after the /
use of thousands Of dollars, used in
some eases to literally .debauch the
electorate, and the system has, as re-
ward, placed those who brought re
suits in high political positions The
goyernorship has been practically put
upon the auction block and sold TO the
highest bidder Aud this IN Vermont
The people have been driven to i
don 't-care who-is-nominated frame of
mind They keep away from eau
casses because the slick gentlemen who
know the game, the political experts,
absolutely control those caucusses.
Delegates to conventions are respOn-
sible for their election not TO the PEG
ple as a whole bur to the local poll
ticians, agents Of the machine. Del
egates too often vote rs directed by
the one responsible for them. Thus we
get rule by politicians or, TO be alb
solutelv correct, a rule by the inter
ests employing the politician. In the
/ last two years these parasites Of the
| body polite have been partially eX
! posed But they are . shrewd lot and
4 have succeeded beyond reasonable ex-
I pectation IN retaining prestige
Caucus System Too Costly.
! The caucus and convention system is
too costly. The expenses Of delegates
70 conventions IN this state total more
than S50.o0o bieuniaily. In large
number OF eases delegates demand eX-
.penses. The present. system has made
/ grafters out OF good men, One is sur
prised at the standing OF men who de-
mand convention expenses.
The convention Is not deliberatiye
body. Its work does not represent the
dcIiberation demanded by the Peo-
pie. 1t does represent the superiority
of means and the political sagacity of
the victor The result la every con
veution - . testimonial 80 the power
Of organized politics ia the state. \
convention rarely witnesses more than
one contest. The other nominations
depend upon the outcome OF that con
rest and are made without serious con
sidcration and oftentimeS through
trades ANY system which makes pos
siblc public officials through political
trades Is a menace 10 government.
Convention Night-Before.
Witness :, picture Of a typical state
, convention. The night before, the
lobby al the popular hotel * crowded;
men crowding together anal talking eN
eitediv. rumors circulating with no op
tortunltv Of eoutirmatlou. faithful
htnrhmcn of the candidates eirculat.
iHg. collecting delegate and plotting
them To headquarters. Here they ar,
met b< the caudi date ANA greeted lis,
long lost brother. assured Of TIL,
candidate : highest regard. praised an,
tompImcuted until the delegate he
: gins 20 wonder why be- has 80 long cs
eaped being sent TO Congress. IL,
goes on u other Headquarters aceumu
Eating ~tock at cheap praise aH.
cigars until. WoH ont, he seeks ii,
rest
:, Then il j. tA>t tbe masters &c TIA,
situation are settling tire matte. 81
candidates. Ia some room iu th"r bu
:, til they are gathered eanvae>lug In,
situation deciding uLo shall hc nom
4 mated aud perfertm1 the plans ot th
:. conventions
. what the Morning Brings.
" Ia the morning tho delegate. agau
: huds the same ,uullrsiou. tine same uu
.. certainty He goes to THE convection
where the air Is ~archar2rd with eV
ritrment and manufactured entbu9i
a>m Nominations arr called for Tn
- best orators land their candidates 8
the -rauje~t creation since the days 4
= Adam Tho ballot taken and thc II.
" suit is announced The result is
accord with the selection worked 81
~. by the masters of the situation. IT.
other nominations ale made as Il mat
fer Of course. The delegates for q lie,
= Pcudentiy They were iii fagt villa
Justice liu2be- has APPLY tcrmes
= registering mqrhnes to registe
the will of the political bosses
We know of governor within men
), ofv who WAS nominated ~ the timrl
- arrival of delegate who had change
49, MS mind and WAS hurried TO the rol
-, Ventieu haiti. Ne know of aHotho
NJ governor nominated upon a certain ba
~ lot because three eli the delegates /
~ the opposition went cat for dinu,
during that ballot Can we say til;
i systcm which makes possible "a 90,
~ eruor hcea,fc. three men were hun.r-
An is 4 great suc-c~s?
&c Great Number of Caucuses.
The present system is cumhcrson
- and complex Applying it to pres
~ Dental YEAR: Ne have q caucus f,
~ each party in each town. about 700
~ Continued on Page =
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