The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-10-09


conventions ever since American political par
ties came into existence and that such a meth
cd of selecting candidates was originated by
of the two major parties which have al
ways dominated governmental affairs. But the
fact is that neither belief is correct. The re-
public had been in existence more than four de-
cades and had already chosen six Presidents
when this procedure, which regarded as
startling innovation at the time, came into
istence. More than that, it not the inven-
ton of of the then leading parties but it
brought into being by an obscure organiza-
ton which played a minor role in one Presi-
Dental campaign and then quickly passed out
of existence.
Not even the fact that the two leading par
ties of that period Immediately adopted the
tional convention idea, as have all later par
ties until it is essential part of the
American political scheme, has been sufficient
to keep alive the memory Of the Anti-MasOnic
party, a religious-political phenomenon. which
in September 1881 held in Baltimore Nd, the
first authentic national Presidential nominat-
ing convention. And to round out the paradox
of this historic incident which is filled with
paradoxes it should be recorded that the nomi-
nee of the Anti-MasOnic party was himself
Mason!
1t is probable that national nominating
convention would have come about eventually
even if there had never been Anti-Masonic
party. But it so happened that this organization
came the scene at a time when the growth Of
the Democratic spirit in the American people
was rising to high tide and the dissatisfac-
ton with the previous method of choosing Pres-
Dental candidates had reached its peak. So
whether by design or by chance, this party re-
spOnded to a popular demand with new and
acceptable method and thus gets the credit for
MATCHMAKING n which milestone
American political history.
During the first two decades Of our history
as a nation it became the practice for each
party to hold a congressional caucus and nOmi-
nate candidates for President and vice presi-
dent. Just why such a meeting came to be
called caucus" is obscure. There vari-
Gus thories as to the origin of the term. One
is that it is derived from an Indian word "cau-
cauasu," meaning zone who urges or pushes on"
in other words, a promoter Another also
gives it an Indian origin-frOm the word "kaw
kaw-wus' meaning ito consult or speak" Still
a third declares that it was corruption of the
word "calkers' from the fact that early eau
cuses in Massachusetts, where this sort of meet
ing especially prevalent, were held in ship
yards where calking important Occupa-
ton. At any rate, the caucus was an estab-
lished part of political procedure almost from
the beginning of national existence.
The caucuses were made up of party men
who had been elected by the people and who
were already at the seat of government. Travel
In those days was difficult and it was not prac-
ticable for the people to send delegates to q
meeting short notice. So it considered
eminently fit that the selection of candidates
for the two executive offices might well be
trusted to the members of congress. especially
as they would know the best men for candi-
dates that is, the men who would attract the
most votes.
1t was customary for the members of the
house and senate belonging to the same party
TO meet semi-officially, usually in the building
hall where congress held its sessions, and
make their selections. These selections would
be communicated to the voters by means Of
proclamatiOns, which would be signed indiv-
idualIy by the members attending the caucus.
and sometimes by other prominent citizens who
happened to be in the capital. Many early
Presidential nominations were made in Wash
ington in this manner.
But gradually the caucus grew into dsfavor.
The dctum of the party members of congress
was not always accepted by everybody In
1905 two powerful competitors for the success
sion to Jefferson appeared-Madison and Mon
roe-and both were put forward by state legis-
iative caucuses in Virginia. The congressional
caucus decided in favor of Madison. Several
members of congress who did not favor Madi-
son appealed to the country, not only against
the regularity of the procedure, but against the
caucus system itself. But the caucus won out
in that instance and Madison was elected Presi-
dent
In 1912 the revolt against the caucus had be-
come quite positive, for in that year the New
York legislature nominated De Witt Clinton. a
Jefersonian Republican, against Madison, the
regular candidate, and at the same time issued
a sharp protest against the caucus.
Though the congressional caucus continued