The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-07-02
THE NOMINATING SYSTEM


: The high Importance of the power
to control or dictate nominations for
political office is dwelt upon by Mr..
Kent in his recent book, which is so
close study Of the workings of
party machine. He attributes to
this power very large part of the
strength Of city boss, ranking the
ability to nominate even above that
to elect. The boss may now and
then lose an election, but if he still
retains, and is known to retain, such
a hold upon his party organization
as will place in his hands the naming
Of all the important candidates in
the next election, his grip may con-
tinue unbroken. We have seen this
truth illustrated again and again in
New York. The late Boss Murphy
frequently suffered disastrous de-
feats at the polls, but so long as he
could 60 on designating nominations
for Judgeships, for Congress, even
for the Governorship, he came up
smiling after each of the electoral
beatings which were expected to
break his power.
This kind of close corporation con-
troll in national politics long since
passed away. No one man, no small
group of men, can now decide be-
forehand who is to be nominated as
President. The abolition of the old
unit rule in the Republican Party
and its partial abandonment by the
Democrats have brought about condi-
tions which may not be satisfactory
in all respects, but which, ut all
events, have made an end of the
open and unblushing boss system, as
exhibited on the Federal stage. The
existing gods Of the machine have to
be more refined and secretive in
their methods. The avowed and even
brutal dictation Of other days would
not be tolerated now. At least this
amount of credit must be given to
the later forms of the National Con-
vention.
mot even it's stoutest defenders,
however, could maintain that it is a
wholly admirable institution which
functions we'll. Both at Cleveland
and New York this year things were
done to make the judicious grieve.
A foreign observer planted in Nat
ional Convention to study the ways
of the American democracy in action
would certainly get some disagree
able impressions. He would see the
delegates too aften conducting them
selves like crazy people or small
children. He would see an immense
amount of time and energy absolute
1y wasted. If he were asked to men,
.tion any political organization on
earth which seemed so inefficient,
so often absurd, so frequently par
alyzed as A National Convention in
the United States, he would not know
where to find it.
The thing is not always so bad as
it seems. Behind the silly demon
STATIONS, the empty speeches and the
enthusiastic marching up hill only to
march down again there usually
exists definite purpose and me ~
ment of concentration which in the
end have their way. Often happy
ASoNiC ACoOS VIC PoUiiS W AVA6CC VI
pardon the most unhappy prelimin-
aries. Yet something ought to be
done to remove the impression of
aimless dawdling or insincere and
infantile manifestations which almost
regularly mark the first days of
National Convention. One conven-
ton cannot, of course, bind its sue
cessor. But it might recommend
few sensible rules, and get the Nat
ional Committee also to urge them,
for the purpose of preventing the
grosser abuses and the fantastic and
futile performances which occur un-
der the present systems. 1t might be
provided that applau for any can
didate should not be allowed % ex-
coed five minutes. Some of the
things which happened in New York
last week strongly indicate that the
National Convention is in need of
being saved from it's own professed
friends.-New York Times.