CAUCUS 



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CAULIFLOWER 



two territories are divided into thirteen prov- 

 inces, under the rule of Russia. The Caucasus 

 is rich in all natural resources, and its oil wells 

 are second in value only to those of the United 

 States. The principal portion of the oil trade 

 is carried on through the port of Baku, on the 

 Caspian, and Batum, on the Black Sea. Pop- 

 ulation, about 10,500,000. 



The Caucasus Mountains. This system ex- 

 tends from west to east for a distance of about 

 900 miles and forms a natural barrier between 

 Asia and Europe. The inhabitants of the re- 

 gion have been regarded as typical of the 

 white, or Caucasian, races of the world, hence 

 the name. The mountains are bold and rug- 

 ged, many peaks being higher than the high- 

 est of the Alps, though lacking the scenic 

 effects found in the latter. They are formed 

 principally of granite and schists, the only 

 peaks showing distinct volcanic origin being 

 Elbruz, 18,470 feet above sea level, and Kasbek, 

 16,546 feet. In the east numerous passes cross 

 the mountains, but the western end of the 

 range is impassable. The lower slopes are cov- 

 ered with forests of oak, birch, fir, ash, beech 

 and elm, in which are found deer, goats, wolves, 

 lynxes, foxes and other wild animals, besides 

 numerous birds of prey. The rivers Kuban 

 and Rion drain the western slopes, emptying 

 their waters into the Black Sea. In the east 

 the Kura and Terek flow into the Caspian Sea. 



CAUCUS, kaw'kus, a meeting of members 

 of a political party, called for the purpose of 

 nominating candidates for office, to decide on 

 a policy, or both. The caucus is the most 

 democratic means of party government, and 

 was the chief feature of the American political 

 system for over a century. In a party caucus 

 all the recognized members of the party were 

 allowed to vote and speak. The voters of a 

 town, a village, a legislative district or other 

 small governmental unit usually held a caucus, 

 and from these smaller units delegates were 

 sent to a similar caucus or convention of the 

 county or state. Originally the caucus was 

 an excellent method of party government, but 

 as the population of local units increased, the 

 way opened for corruption and government by 

 bosses. A few powerful leaders would make a 

 "slate" of candidates they wished nominated, 

 and it was seldom that the opposition could 

 unite to overthrow this list, even if it desired 

 to do so. The abuses which gradually arose 

 made some other method inevitable, and the 

 local caucus has now been supplanted nearly 

 everywhere by the direct primary (which see). 



The caucus is still used in legislative bodies, 

 including Congress and many of the Parlia- 

 ments of the world. In the United States it 

 has become a recognized feature of party gov- 

 ernment. The members of a single party in 

 either house of Congress meet in secret ses- 

 sion to decide on a policy and the party's can- 

 didate for Speaker or other offices. The de- 

 cision of such a party caucus is regarded as 

 binding on all the members of the party, 

 whether they are present or not. Until 1824 

 the members of each political party in the 

 Congress of the United States held a caucus 

 for the purpose of nominating candidates for 

 President and Vice-President. 



The system of party caucuses greatly sim- 

 plifies procedure in a legislative body; if a 

 party which has a majority of members can 

 decide on a definite policy it can outvote the 

 minority without delay. On the other hand 

 there is always the danger that the minority 

 in a caucus will be overruled, and that the 

 majority of the caucus is really only a minor- 

 ity in the legislative body. Once it was a rare 

 occurrence for any legislator to refuse to abide 

 by the decision of his party caucus, but in 

 more recent days of insurgents and bolters and 

 shifting political allegiance the caucus has lost 

 some of its importance. W.F.Z. 



CAULIFLOWER, kaw'liflouer, a garden 

 variety of cabbage, which, instead of a bud- 

 like head of leaves, is a very tight head of 

 flowers. More delicately flavored than cab- 

 bage, it is highly esteemed as a table vege- 



CAULIFLOWER 



table, and is served with cream or butter 

 sauce, or is pickled. The cauliflower requires 

 fertile soil, well drained but moist, and must 

 be sheltered from the sun to keep the heads 

 white and attractive for the market; this is 



