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directly through the convention system than when they vote directly at the polls, is difficult to see. These are the major charges and as regards them the case can certainly be dismissed for want of evidence.

Technical problems still exist as to which is the best type of primary. The chief problem, however, in connection with nominations is no longer how to perfect the machinery, but how to interest the betterclass voter, how to bring the disinterested, the publicspirited citizen to active participation in politics. Suggested Reading

Kent, Frank. Great Game of Politics. (1923)
Brooks, Robert C. Political Parties and Electoral
Problems. (1923)

Ray, P. Orman. An Introduction to Political Parties and
Practical Politics. (1922)

PARTY ORGANIZATION
National (8)
Committee

Senatorial (7)
Committee
Congressional (6)
Committee

State Central (5)
Committees

in all states

District Committees (4)
in various Representative,

Judicial, and Adminis-
trative Districts

County Committees (3)
in each of the 3065 counties
(City committees are inde-
pendent of the county in
a few large cities.)

Ward, School District, Township (2)
Town and City Committees

Precinct Committeeman or Committee (1)
in each of the 100,000 precincts
in the United States

Chart I. Political Organization

This chart is in large measure an adaptation of a chart in Robert C. Brooks' Political Parties and Electoral Problems.

(1) The country is divided into small geographical areas containing between three and four hundred voters. These are the precincts, and they constitute the smallest units of party organization. The precinct committeeman or committee is in charge of party activity in this area.

(2) The existence of these committees varies from locality to locality. Where they exist, they have more or less supervision of the work in the territory designated.

(3) The county is a unit of political organization everywhere. And everywhere the county committeemen are charged with the duty of carrying it for the party. (4) Where these district committees exist they are usually of minor importance.

(5) State central committees are to be found in every state. They generally have as their function the maintenance of harmony in the party and the general effectiveness of the state machine. They usually conduct the state campaigns, becoming in presidential years units under the general control of the national committee.

(6) The chief function of the Congressional committee, composed as it is of members of the lower House, is to aid in the Congressional campaigns.

(7) Of a similar nature is the Senatorial Committee save that its energies are concentrated upon elections to the Senate.

(8) The national committee is chiefly concerned with the election of the president. For an account of its activity, see pages 60-74.

CHAPTER VI

THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF BOTH PARTIES: "THE CHOICE OF THE PRESIDENT"

The ultimate goal of all political parties is the election of the president. By no means, however, is this the only office which the parties hope to fill. The mayor and the city council, the governor and the state legislature are all exceedingly important if the party is to attain a position of power, not to mention the members of the House of Representatives or the Senate or the host of petty officers who must be chosen. Into the intrigues surrounding each of these, space will not permit us to go. The selection of the chief magistrate must occupy our attention. At the time of this writing the opening guns of a presidential campaign have already been fired. Gossip and speculation concerning presidential possibilities pervade the news columns. Skillful press agents for this or that aspirant are quietly securing the insertion of human interest stories in the Sunday supplements, portraying their employers in their most appealing moods. Gradually the suggestions as to potential aspirants are becoming more definite. Speeches and interviews designed to test the strength of the respective candi

dates have already been released. And where the "feelers" have disclosed sufficient strength the candidate has stepped forth with an announcement that "his hat is in the ring."

Meanwhile, chambers of commerce, newspapers and other organizations the country over have been conducting "drives" to bring one or other of the conventions to their city. The National Committees have considered the inducements offered by this and that city, and this year have decided upon Cleveland and New York, respectively, as the places of meeting. The call for the meeting has also been issued. The Democratic party retains the traditional representation, two delegates for each representative and senator returned by the state to Congress; thirtyfour extra members of the convention being divided among the territories and possessions. The peculiar situation of the Republican party in the South, in certain sections of which it is known only by reputation, has caused this party to abandon the traditional apportionment of delegates and to adopt one more nearly representative of party strength.1 Having completed the arrangements for the convention, the National Committee temporarily retires.

The center of the stage is now occupied by the aspirants for nomination. In some states they actively

It should be pointed out that the Democratic position in Vermont, Pennsylvania and other "rockribbed" Republican states is very similar to that of the Republicans in the South and that the problem of securing representation proportionate to the party strength is by no means confined to the latter party.

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