The town and city clerks enter in full upon the public records the names of the persons voted for, the number of votes for each, Records and and the title of the office for which each is proposed. Within ten days from the election of State and county officers, the clerks are required to send a sealed copy of this record of the election to the secretary of the Commonwealth. Certificates. The secretary transmits these returned copies to the governor and council, who examine them. The governor then issues a summons to the persons chosen to the various executive offices, and to the senators. To the sheriffs, registers of probate, district attorneys, and the clerks of courts, he sends certificates of their election. The persons chosen to the house of representatives receive certificates of election, made out by the clerks of the several towns or wards comprising the district, who meet for the purpose of examining the records of votes, and ascertaining the result. Duplicate certificates are sent to the secretary of the Commonwealth. The returns of votes for county commissioners are examined by a board of examiners in each county. The commissioners themselves examine the returns for treasurer, and register of deeds. The official year in Massachusetts begins on the first Wednesday in January. On that day, the legislature meets, and the secretary of the Commonwealth lays before the two houses the returns of votes for executive officers. The returns are examined, and the results of the election declared. The officers are then ready to be qualified by taking the required oaths. The term of each officer continues until a successor is elected and qualified. Official Year. Removals. The Constitution provides that judicial officers may be removed by the governor with consent of council, upon the request of both houses of the legislature. The members of the general court may be expelled by their respective houses. Executive officers can only be removed by impeachment. NOMINATIONS. Under the colonial government of Massachusetts, the nomination, as well as the election of officers, was regulated by law. But now the selection of candidates is left to be determined by the various political parties into which the people are divided; and by them the whole matter is systematized. Each party has a State committee, whose business is, to look after the general interest of the Committees. party, and to promote its success. There is also a committee in each county and in each town, city, and ward in the county. Early in the fall of each year, the State committee issues a call for a convention to nominate candidates for the executive tion. Call of Conven- offices. This call states the basis of representation in the convention, one delegate being allowed for a specified number of legal voters. Upon receiving this notice, the city and town committees issue calls for caucuses. These are meetings Caucus. of the voters of the party, for the purpose of choosing delegates to the convention. The local committee is also chosen annually at a caucus. The delegates from all the towns meet at the apNominating pointed time, and, after organizing, choose Convention. by ballot candidates for governor, lieutenant-governor, secretary, treasurer, auditor, and attorney-general. The State committee is also chosen at this time. After the nominations are made, a series of resolutions is usually adopted, setting forth the principles of the party which the nominees are supposed to represent. During the autumn, conventions. are held in the counties for the nomination of county officers, and in the councillor and senatorial districts to nominate candidates for the respective offices. To all of these, delegates are sent from the local caucuses. Representatives to the General Court are nominated by a caucus in each district. Each party having made its nominations, the campaign, as it is called, opens. Every effort is made by public meetings, by the newspapers, and by personal influence, to secure the greatest number of votes for each candidate; and the work goes on, under the supervision of the various committees, until the day of election. The The Campaign. Objections to the System. This convention system makes it possible for political managers to control the election. voter, on the day of election, has little room for choice. He must either vote for the nominee of his party or of the opposite party, or throw away his ballot by casting it for some person who has no chance of election. He may like neither of the candidates; and his vote may only indicate his choice of evils. It is now too late for him to protest. The place of influence is the primary caucus. If that is controlled by politicians for selfish Importance of purposes, the candidates will be men of the Caucus. the same stamp, and the government will be corrupt. The fate of the nation is decided at the caucuses, not at the elections. If it is a duty of every voter to vote, |
