Studies in History, Economics, and Public Law Volume . 13 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1901 Excerpt: ...the purpose of opposing foreign influence at the polls. Another rule ordered that executive work should be carried on with secrecy, and should not be in the name of the Order. The precise method of work was laid out in another rule as follows: Rule Nine: Whenever it shall be deemed necessary for the Order to aid in the choice of men for public office through the suffrages of the people, it shall be the duty of each executive committee to call together the members of the Order in their district prior to the usual primary elections or nominations, and determine upon suitable candidates of each party or either, as they may determine. It will be the duty of the members to assemble at the times and places of holding the primary meetings of such party or parties, and there use their influence in obtaining the nomination of the candidates they have selected. If the nominations are secured and ratified our cause will triumph, whichever party may be successful. Should the members of the Order nominate or select candidates already in the field, nominated by one party only, it will be the duty of every brother to sustain that selection independent of any party consideration. The formulation of Rule Nine by the Executive Convention was a most significant step. It is the first authentic landmark in the history of what came to be known a few years later as " dark-lantern politics." Popular thought has laid the responsibility for secret politics upon the Know-Nothing Order, but all evidence now extant seems to show that in December, 1851, when these rules were adopted by the O. U. A., the so-called Know-Nothing Order was aneglectable quantity. It may perhaps have had forty members, but it was utterly powerless and petty. The responsibility of introducing secret ...