SECT. 6.] NOMINATION OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS. 87 Stevenson. This was the signal for a general stampede to Stevenson, and chairmen of delegations in all parts of the hall were seen standing on chairs endeavoring to catch the eye of the presiding officer. As delegation after delegation followed the lead of Iowa, and it became evident that Mr. Stevenson was to be nominated, Mr. Cole of Ohio was recognized by the chair, and moved that the rules be suspended and that General Stevenson be nominated by acclamation. The motion was seconded by W. U. Hensel of Pennsylvania. . . . On being put, the motion was unanimously adopted and General Adlai E. Stevenson was declared the nominee of the Democratic party for the office of VicePresident of the United States.80

After the nominations have been made, motions are usually carried, empowering the national committee to fix the time and place of the next national convention, and to perform other services, in case provision for such matters has not already been made in the rules. Then, after passing resolutions for the printing of the proceedings of the convention, thanking the citizens of the place where the convention has been held for their hospitality, and also thanking the different officers of the convention for their services, the national convention— the great instrument by which the American people arrive at a choice of party candidates for the highest office in their gift - adjourns sine die.31

6. Nomination of Presidential Electors. Some account of the method of nominating electors in the several States seems to be called for at this point. Candidates for the two electors at

80 Official Proceedings of the Democratic Convention of 1892, 174–5.

81 As has already been mentioned, it is the custom of national conventions, either before or after the making of the nominations, to appoint a committee or committees to notify the candidates of the action of the convention. Such a committee always consists of one delegate from each State and Territory, and, as in the case of other committees, each delegation selects its own representative. The notification proceedings are usually very simple. The committee visits the candidate at his home, and the chairman, in a brief speech, formally notifies him of his nomination. The candidate replies informally, accepting the honor conferred upon him: this is followed later by a carefully prepared letter of acceptance, which is published and spread broad-cast over the country as a campaign document. Sometimes, however, as in the case of the Democratic Convention of 1892, the notification proceedings are more elaborate. See Official Proceedings of the Democratic National Convention of 1892, 214.

large to which each State is entitled are, in every case, nominated at the regular State convention held for the nomination of State officers, or, in case there are no State officers to be nominated, by a State convention called for that express purpose. The candidate for elector in each congressional district is usually nominated by the district convention held for the purpose of nominating a candidate for the Lower House of Congress. In some States, however, a complete electoral ticket for the whole State is nominated by the State convention.

It is common to put upon the electoral ticket, particularly in the case of the electors at large, distinguished members of the party who have never held national office, or who have retired therefrom.

Vacancies arising in the electoral ticket before the election are usually filled either by the other nominees or by the State committee.

7. Nominations for the National House of Representatives. The nomination of a candidate for representative in Congress for any given district is, in most sections of the country, made by a congressional district convention 32 composed of delegates chosen at caucuses or primaries in the various towns and city wards of the district. The call for the convention is issued by the congressional district committee, and states the number of delegates to which each city and town is entitled. 38

The convention is called to order by the chairman of the district committee, and the mode of procedure is practically the same as that of the county convention described in chapter ii. The nomination of a congressional candidate is often determined in advance by a private agreement that the incumbent, after one or more terms of service, shall retire and aid the nomination of his principal rival in a former convention. Moreover, as in the case of other district conventions, it is

32 During the first half of the century it frequently happened that the State convention of a party nominated the party candidates for all the congressional districts of the State. At the present time, in some sections congressional candidates are nominated by the "Crawford County" system already referred to.

33 As has been mentioned before, in Massachusetts the State committee each year determines upon a uniform basis of representation for the State convention as well as for all district conventions.

customary for the different portions of the district to furnish the candidate in turn.

As in the case of a State convention, after a candidate has been nominated, a committee is usually appointed-consisting, in case of a contest, of a representative of each of the rival candidates to find the nominee and escort him to the hall. In case the search of the committee proves successful, the newly-nominated candidate treats the convention to a speech, usually carefully prepared beforehand, in which he tells the assembled delegates what he intends to do if elected. Then, after the choice of a new district committee, 34 the convention adjourns.

In those years in which a Presidential election occurs, the congressional convention also names a candidate for Presidential elector to be placed upon the State electoral ticket at the coming election.

8. Nomination of Candidates for the United States Senate. In a few cases candidates for the United States Senate have been nominated by the State conventions called for the purpose of nominating candidates for State offices, and the candidates thus nominated have " stumped" the State, the election of members of the legislature turning upon the senatorial question. Examples of such cases are to be found in the memorable Lincoln-Douglas contest in Illinois, in 1858, and more recently in the election of General Palmer over Senator Farwell in the same State, in 1891, and of Senator Cullom over Mr. McVeagh in 1893.

As a rule, however, the nomination of a candidate for the United States Senate is made at a joint caucus of the party members of both Houses of the State legislature, the members of those bodies being generally chosen with very little reference to their preference for senator. The call for such a caucus is issued either by the caucus committees of the two Houses, 35 or by those members of the party who, for one rea

34 District committees are usually chosen to serve from the first day of the January following the holding of the convention. Thus the old committee conducts the campaign for the newly nominated candidate.

85 The Senate and House caucuses, held at the beginning of the session for the

son or another, are favorable to a caucus nomination, 36 and if attended, as is usually the case, by the greater part of the members of the party in the legislature, its action is considered as binding upon all.

The caucus is called to order either by the oldest member present, or by some member named in the call, and the procedure is exactly the same as that of the caucuses of the two Houses of the legislature held at the beginning of the session for the purpose of nominating candidates for the various offices of their respective bodies. The only difference is that the caucus for nominating a candidate for senator is a joint caucus of the two Houses. It is customary to choose a member of the Upper House to act as chairman, and a member of the Lower House as secretary.

In States where one party has an overwhelming majority in the legislature, as is the case generally in the South, as well as in some parts of the North, it sometimes happens that no previous nomination of a candidate for senator is made, as there is no possible chance of a member of the opposite party being elected by any combination of disaffected members with the minority in open legislature. At the present time, however, there is a tendency on the part of political leaders to compel the holding of a caucus under all circumstances, for the purpose of preserving the party organization.

9. Nominations for the Offices of the Senate and House of Representatives. The only other national officers of a directly or indirectly elective character, which we have not considered, are the officers of the two Houses of Congress. The officers elected by the Senate consist of a President, pro tem., a Secretary, a Chaplain, a Sergeant-at-arms, and a Postmaster.

purpose of nominating candidates for President and Speaker respectively, choose caucus committees to look after the interests of the party on the floor of their respective chambers. See ante, chapter iii. § 8.

36 It sometimes happens that the friends of a particular candidate prefer not to go into a party caucus for the reason that if the election were left to the open legislature their candidate would receive the support of members of the opposite party, which, with a minority of his own party, might be sufficient to secure his election; while if they went into a caucus the candidate of the other faction would be nominated, and they would be bound to vote for the caucus nominee.

The officers elected by the House of Representatives consist of a Speaker, a Clerk, a Chaplain, a Sergeant-at-arms, a Doorkeeper, and a Postmaster.37 Of these only the President pro tem. of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House, are members of their respective bodies. 38

Candidates for all the offices just mentioned are nominated at a caucus of the party members of the Senate or House, as the case may be. The call for such a caucus is usually signed by the chairman of the last caucus, if he is still a member, otherwise by some prominent party leader, or by a selfappointed committee. The procedure is exactly the same as that of the caucuses held by the party members of the two Houses of a State legislature held for a similar purpose, which has already been described. 39

As long as one party continues to be in a majority in one of the Houses, there is usually no contest for the nominations, the old officials being re-nominated by acclamation. When, however, there has been a change in the political complexion of either House, the struggle for the different offices is very keen. This is especially true in regard to the office of Speaker of the House, owing to the fact that the incumbent of that office is in some respects the most powerful personage in the national government. The canvass begins months before the assembling of Congress; and during the days immediately preceding the decisive first Monday in December, the buttonholing of new members, and the bargaining for votes in return for desirable committee places, are carried on with great energy.

The contest for the nomination for President pro tem. of the Senate, affords a striking contrast to the bitter struggle for the Speakership. The reason is of course to be found in the fact that the former is merely a standing substitute for the regular presiding officer, and that the committees of the Senate are elected by ballot instead of being appointed by

37 These officers appoint their subordinates.

88 For a detailed historical account of the election of the Speaker, see Mary P. Follett, The Speaker, chapter ii.

39 See ante, chapter iii. § 8.