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necessarily are wholly unacquainted with the wishes and feelings
of their constituents in regard to various candidates for office；
is undemocratic； because the people have no voice in it； and
objectionable； because men are often placed in nomination because
of their location who are decidedly unpopular； even in their own
districts； and because it affords too great an opportunity for
scheming and designing men to accomplish their own purposes；
therefore
Resolved； that we are in favor of submitting nominations directly
to the peoplethe Republican votersand that delegate
conventions for nominating county officers be abolished； and we
hereby request and instruct the county committee to issue their
call in 1861； in accordance with the spirit of this resolution。〃
Upon the basis of this indictment of the county convention
system； the Republican voters of Crawford County； a rural
community； whose largest town is Meadville； the county seat；
proceeded to nominate their candidates by direct vote； under
rules prepared by the county committee。 These rules have been but
slightly changed。 The informality of a hat or open table drawer
has been replaced by an official ballotbox； and an official
ballot has taken the place of the tickets furnished by each
candidate。
The 〃Crawford County plan；〃 as it was generally called； was
adopted by various localities in many States。 In 1866 California
and New York enacted laws to protect primaries and nominating
caucuses from fraud。 In 1871 Ohio and Pennsylvania enacted
similar laws； followed by Missouri in 1875 and New Jersey in
1878。 By 1890 over a dozen States had passed laws attempting to
eliminate the grosser frauds attendant upon making nominations。
In many instances it was made optional with the party whether the
direct plan should supersede the delegate plan。 Only in certain
cities； however； was the primary made mandatory in these States。
By far the larger areas retained the convention。
There is noticeable in these years a gradual increase in the
amount of legislation concerning the nominating machinery
prescribing the days and hours for holding elections of
delegates； the size of the polling…place； the nature of the
ballotbox； the poll…list； who might participate in the choice of
delegates； how the returns were to be made； and so on。 By the
time； then； that the Australian ballot came； with its profound
changes； nearly all the States had attempted to remove the
glaring abuses of the nominating system； and several of them
officially recognized the direct primary。 The State was reluctant
to abolish the convention system entirely； and the Crawford
County plan long remained merely optional。 But in 1901 Minnesota
enacted a state…wide； mandatory primary law。 Mississippi followed
in 1902； Wisconsin in 1903； and Oregon in 1904。 This movement has
swept the country。
Few States retain the nominating convention； and where it remains
it is shackled by legal restrictions。 The boss； however； has
devised adequate means for controlling primaries； and a return to
a modified convention system is being earnestly discussed in many
States to circumvent the further ingenuity of the boss。 A further
step towards the state control of parties was taken when laws
began to busy themselves with the conduct of the campaign。
Corrupt Practices Acts began to assume bulk in the early
nineties； to limit the expenditure of candidates； and to
enumerate the objects for which campaign committees might
legitimately spend money。 These are usually personal traveling
expenses of the candidates； rental of rooms for committees and
halls for meetings； payment of musicians and speakers and their
traveling expenses； printing campaign material； postage for
distribution of letters； newspapers and printed matter； telephone
and telegraph charges； political advertising； employing
challengers at the polls； necessary clerk hire； and conveyances
for bringing aged or infirm voters to the polls。 The maximum
amount that can be spent by candidates is fixed； and they are
required to make under oath a detailed statement of their
expenses in both primary and general elections。 The various
committees； also； must make detailed reports of the funds they
handle； the amount； the contributors； and the expenditures。
Corporations are forbidden to contribute； and the amount that
candidates themselves may give is limited in many States。 These
exactions are reinforced by stringent laws against bribery。
Persons found guilty of either receiving or soliciting a bribe
are generally disfranchised or declared ineligible for public
office for a term of years。 Illinois； for the second offense；
forever disfranchises。
It is not surprising that these restrictions have led the State
to face the question whether it should not itself bear some of
the expenses of the campaign。 It has； of course； already assumed
an enormous burden formerly borne entirely by the party。 The cost
of primary and general elections nowadays is tremendous。 A few
Western States print a campaign pamphlet and distribute it to
every voter。 The pamphlet contains usually the photographs of the
candidates； a brief biography； and a statement of principles。
These are the principal encroachments made by the Government upon
the autonomy of the party。 The details are endless。 The election
laws of New York fill 330 printed pages。 It is little wonder that
American parties are beginning to study the organization of
European parties； such as the labor parties and the social
democratic parties； which have enlisted a rather fervent party
fealty。 These are propagandist parties and require to be active
all the year round。 So they demand annual dues of their members
and have permanent salaried officials and official party organs。
Such a permanent organization was suggested for the National
Progressive party。 But the early disintegration of the party made
impossible what would have been an interesting experiment。 After
the election of 1916； Governor Whitman of New York suggested that
the Republican party choose a manager and pay him 10；000 a year
and have a lien on all his time and energy。 The plan was widely
discussed and its severest critics were the politicians who would
suffer from it。 The wide…spread comment with which it was
received revealed the change that has come over the popular idea
of a political party since the State began forty years ago to
bring the party under its control。
But flexibility is absolutely essential to a party system that
adequately serves a growing democracy。 And under a two…party
system； as ours is probably bound to remain； the independent
voter usually holds the balance of power。 He may be merely a
disgruntled voter seeking for revenge； or an overpleased voter
seeking to maintain a profitable status quo； or he may belong to
that class of super…citizens from which mugwumps arise。 In any
case； the majorities at elections are usually determined by him。
And party orthodoxy made by the State is almost as distasteful to
him as the rigor of the boss。 He relishes neither the one nor the
other。
In the larger cities the citizens' tickets and fusion movements
are types of independen