Rensselaer Journal, Volume 12, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 July 1902 — Two Important Platform Pronouncements [ARTICLE]

Two Important Platform Pronouncements

Of the Republican State Convention

By Ron. Addison C. Harris

Of Indianapolis

Nominations are as important as elections. In many localities a nomination is equivalent to an election. In some the election may turn on the character «?.d superior fitness of the candidates. And in every case It Is quite as essential that the candidate shall be the choice of his party, or that the officer should be elected by a majority of the people. Yet up to this time very little has been done In Indiana toward securing the integrity of party nominations.

The Indiana Republican state convention took two steps forward toward better modes of nominations, which seem to open the way to practical reform. The first is: “The state central committee is instructed to prepare and adopt suitable and proper rules and Regulations which shall in the future govern the mode and manner of the selection of delegates, to state, congressional and legislative conventions.” The Beeond is: “The Republican party demands the adoption and enforcement of proper laws regulating nominations; securing to every man the right to express his choice for the candidates of the party to which he belongs—whether ths nominations are made by a direct primary or a delegate or a mass convention.”

The Necessity for Reform. At the present time there are no uniform rules touching the selection of . delegates. Sometimes they are chosen by county conventions, sometimes by the people, and sometimes by the candidates themselves. When a candidate selects his own delegates they become often a political asset which he may use as he wishes to help himself and his friends and hurt his opponents. Such a delegation often divides its vote equally between all the candidates for one office. For practical purposes they might as well not vote at all. Sometimes a group of candidates hplding personal delegations form a combination and dominate the convention. It is to reform these abuses that the state committee is commanded to formulate a body of rules “suitable and proper,” to the end that a majority vote in a convention shall represent the real and free

choice of a majority of the delegates. The Idea of investing a body of men with this power is drawn from our election laws. There the chairmen of the political parties choose men who, with the governor, make the state board of election commissioners, and who supervise the election of state officers. It is quite natural to give to the state committee the power to supervise the party nominations which are of interest throughout the state. And it is not improbable that the legislature will give to these party regulations the quality of law.

A Fundamental Doctrine Declared.

The ether declaration is of equal Importance. It is that every man has the right to express his choice for the candidates of his party, and demands both the adoption and enforcement of proper laws to carry out this doctrine and enforce this right. The convention did not and could not well formulate the details. It is not the province of a great convention to convert Itself into a legislative body. It Is enough that it declares a fundamental doctrine and directs its application to be made through the legislative and executive departments. The basic doctrine is that the people acting individually must have the right under the laws to make choice of their party candidates. The method of making the nominations is left where it now rests, in the people. Many counties In this state follow the convention method; as many adopt the primary election. Neither is necessary to be torn up. The people are to have the right of choice in their several localities whether they will nominate in the primary or in convention. Indeed, they may meet in mass convention if they wish.

Safeguarding the Ballot. Be the ‘‘mode and manner” of nomination what it may, the nominations must be under “proper laws.” This means, of course, that the right to express the choice must be safeguarded as securely as at an election. Honest secret ballots must be provided, and they can be furnished in a delegate convention as well as In a primary or a mass convention. Corruption and bribery must be prohibited and punished when practiced In the nominations or at elections.

An opportunity is afforded the state committee and the legislature to act conjointly, and with the equal co-oper-ation of the other state committees to establish a plain and practical system of party nominations as free and as fair as our own party elections. Importance of Pure Nominations. Pure nominations are as essential to good government as pure elections. If the one is corrupt the other is corrupted. The sentiments expressed by the state convention reflect public opinion which governs conventions and legislatures. This demand for wholesome laws governing nominations is not limited to any party or locality, although it found no expression in the Democratic state platform recently adopted. It remains only to express the wishes of the whole people in clear and simple words, and they will be adopted as another step forward in good government.