New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1919-12-03
is left to the majority vote Of the party

is left to the majority vote Of the party
caucus.
Probably no institution Of the La
Dor parties, certainly nothing in con-
nection with the work Of the Nonpar-
tisan league Of the North Dakota far
mers, has been more vigorously as
sailed than the existence Of this caucus
The caucus appoints its committees.
The caucus authorizes the drafting
of its bills. The caucus acts upon the
reports OF its committees on the legis-
lation proposed. It's measures are dis
cussed, referred, rereferred, rewritten, re
vised, by order Of the caucus, again and
again, until beaten into final shape
When the majority Of the caucus has
decided that any particular measure,
in the form which it finally takes as the
result Of such a proceeding, is essential
to the carrying out Of the program, for
the sake Of which the organization it
self was brought into existence, then the
Labor members, or in North Dakota the
League members, 60 in a body to the
legislative hall and vote as unit for the
measure 50 agreed upon.
WHY THE ATTACK.
The complaint against such a pro-
gram always comes from the people
who are opposed to the. measures to
be adopted, and who seek by an at
tack on the caucus. to discredit the
measures. Such a proceeding would
not be necessary if it were possible
for them instead to attack the wisdom
of the measures themselves.
In all legislative bodies where. such
caucuses are not supposed to exist,
they either exist under cover or party
boss" with staff or corporation law
yers provides the legislation, introduces
the bills, cracks the whip" and delivers
the goods in behalf Of the great private
interests. 1t is the very people who
have submitted to the boss rule" Of an
individual representing great private
interests that have objected most loudly
to the caucus method of crystallizing
into fixed form for final action the cam
paign programs Of the Labor parties.
AN EFFECTIVE GUARD.
It may be said for such a caucus.
that, while corruption funds may reach
now and then a member, it can not do
SO under the scheme Of the caucus with
out exposing the pertidy Of such a mem
Der beyond any possibility Of question,
and while now and then improper in
duences may lead individuals to abandon
their pledges, no matter how sacredly
given, in actual experience the legis-
lative caucus IS the surest method k. own
to political sceince under which cam
paign pledges. may be effectively sup
ported and honestly enacted into law,
once they have won approval at the
ballot box
THE GOVERNORS LUNCHEON.
Wherever Labor parties have been
and administration work has
fallen into their hands, regular con
ferences between those in pubic off ce.
and responsible for carrying on the
government have been widely adopted
In North Dakota each Monday noon a
luncheon is given by the: governor and
other state officers to the heads Of vari-
Gus departments, in which programs and
policies Of the gravest Importance are
frankly made the subject of mutual
counsel and advice. Visitors, maya
zine writer's, special students, who have
visited these luncheons, declare them to-
be the most democratic method Of pro-
cedure, as we'll as the most effective means
Of obtaining unity and efficiency in the
Of public affairs.
Labor parties, ot4ce in control Of
the government or once largely rep
resenting as minority within any
government, everywhere proceed to
carry on their work by mutual con-
by seeking the widest
and by acting finally
on the joint Judgment of those who
have been committed to the purpose
of the party.
BUY CHRISTMAS SEALS.