-y7V p' v- r-
The Commoner.
NOVEMBER 17, 1911
yjm9F$e$ r "UMPWy ; "Tfsi"'
"Back to the People" is the Cry from All Sections
and from All Parties
Ex-Governor Folk and Speaker Clark liavo
joined In asking for a primary for the instruc
tion of the Missouri delegation to the next
democratic national convention. This is wise.
Give the people a chance and they will settle
controversies between candidates and settle
thenx more satisfactorily than, the politicians
can. "When the people speak, no one can ques
tion the verdict.
A number of states, including Nebraska,
Oregon, North Dakota, New Jersey and Wis
consin, havo primaries for' the selection, and.
instruction of - delegates, and. the" state 'commit
tees of- several states have been.' asked: to. calL
a primary. . In Alabama and Pennsylvania, the
delegations were instructed In 1908.
"Back to the people," is the cry from all sec
tions and all parties. Presidential primaries
ought to be held in every state in the union.
SENATOR CULBERSON'S STATEMENT
Senator Culberson of Texas has issued a
statement in which ho advocates such change
in the primary election system in Texas, as
well as other states, as will enable each indi
vidual elector in the primary to express his
choice for president. He says:
"In the speech which I made to the legisla
ture of Texas last January when I was honored
by re-election to the senate of the United States,
I said, in effect, that one of the prime factors
in the democratic victory in 1910 was our de
mand for a larger and more direct share by the
people themselves in party and governmental
affairs. Not only do I believe this demand
greatly influenced the election in our favor, but
I believe the demand itself is a proper and
just one.
"We have for years in Texas nominated,
through primaries, candidates for precinct,
county district and state offices and recently
we adopted the policy of nominating candidates
for United States senate. This method prevents
all the abuses which have heretofore entered
into nominations by conventions and mass meet
ings, where often the choice of the majority
was defeated, and gives to each democrat a
direct voice in naming the candidates of his
party.
"I believe this policy should be extended in
each state to the choice of the democrats for
positions, for in this way the real choice of the
democrats would bo made known. At this time
there are a number of well known democrats
who are active or receptive candidates for the
nomination, and all the democrats of Texas
should be given an opportunity to express their
preference next year In a primary."
PRIMARIES SENTIMENT GROWING
Under the headline "Primary Sentiment
Growirig," the Nashville Tennessean prints the
following editorial:
"Sentiment for a democratic state-wide prl-"
mary to select candidates for all state offices,
congress, United States senator, and to show
Tennessee's preference for president in the
coming election, is growing rapidly.
"Leading democrats throughout the state,
regardless of former factional alignment are
talking harmony. Many of them are Indorsing
the Tennesseean and American's suggestion that
the short road to democratic harmony is
through a' state-wide primary for white voters,
conducted by democrats of unquestioned in
tegrity, from both factions.
"An overwhelming mass of the democratic
party In Tennessee Is for prompt and effective
harmony and party reorganization.
"They are not discouraged over Chairman
Vertrees' snubbing of the peace proposals sub
mitted by Chairman Barton and his committee.
Many are of the opinion that Chairman Vertrees
made a serious blunder in refusing to bring his
committee together. In fact the present indi
cation is that he will be forced to call his com
mittee together soon and show a disposition to
meet the desire of the democratic masses, or
the rank and file will handle the situation for
themselves.
"Chairman Vertrees (or no other man in the
state can set himself up as the dictator of
Tennessee democracy. It is a most encouraging
sign that the people mean to handlo their own
party affairs."
A PRIMARY FOR EVERY STATE
Following is an Associated Press dispatch:
"Washington, D. C, Nov. 10. Walter Houser,
chairman of the progressive republican cam
paign committee, has appealed, through circu
lar letter to the chairman of every republican
state committee in the United States, urging
that steps be taken to insuro a republican presi
dential primary in each state by now laws, and
in the five states whererit is provided, by? direc
tion of the campaign, committee.
"In his letter Chairman Houser calls- atten
tion to the resolution adopted at a conferenco
of progressive republicana-iiL Chicago last month,
favoring- state primaries for candidates for presi
dent and vice president, and urging state com
mittees to provide that the people bo given the
right to express their choice for president be
fore the national convention is held.
" 'The demand for popular selection of can
didates for office,' says Chairman Houser, 'both
state and national, has become general. It Is
obvious that no man despite the wisheB of the
rank and file of the republican party can in
spire the confidence or command the united
and enthusiastic support which will bo so neces
sary to republican succes.8 in 1912.'
"Mr. Houser states in the letter, which was
mailed also to the governor, lieutenant gover
nor and speaker of the lower house in each
state, that the friends of Senator La Folletto
are ready to submit his name for nomination
to a direct vote of the rank and file of tho
party."
PROGRESSIVES IN BOTH PARTIES
SHOULD ACT
Following is an editorial that appeared in
the Denver News: ,
"Under the convention plan, as conducted
at present, the people havo absolutely no voice
in the selection of presidential nominees. Tho
public service corporations, organized capital,
led-captalns and camp-following of crooks, all
join in the selection of delegates in tho various
states the national bosses take charge of the
combined output when it Is finally gathered to
gether In the convention city and the best tho
people get is a choice between two party nomi
nees blandly offered them.
"The whole plan is outrageous and absurd,
but what with the stupidities of partisanship
and the perfection of 'machine' control, it is
not until now that tho people are arousing to
rebellion. Oregon, as usual, has led the way.
In 1910 that state provided, by statute, for
presidential primaries at which every individual
voter, democrat, republican, et al., would havo
the right to express his preference for party
nominees for president and vice president.
"What more simple or more just? The dele
gates are supposed to represent tho wishes of
the people, and by means of the presidential
primaries, the people are permitted to express
these wishes for the instruction of their repre
sentatives. "Since 1910 four other states have followed
Oregon's example, so that on these dates, in
1912, these states will send delegates to the
democratic and republican national convention
with orders: North Dakota, March 19; Wis
consin, April 2; Nebraska, April 17; Oregon,
April 19, and New Jersey, May 28.
"California will also fall in line shortly. The
Johnson administration, now in control of the
republican machinery, could easily secure a La
Folletto delegation, but, judging from report,
it 1b not the progressive intention to take ad
vantage of the power. A presidential primary
will be ordered, and unless La Follotto gets the
Yotes he will not get the delegation. This is
'mobocracy' as distinguished from 'practical
politics.'
"Mark Sullivan, writing In ColIier'B declares
that 'there is no escaping the logic of the
presidential primary. If it Is right for tho in
dividual to vote at tho election, why is it not
right for him to vote at the primary also? If
the individual Is capable of choosing between
Taft and Harmon assuming that they are tho
candidates at the election why is he not also
capable of choosing between Taft and La Fol
lette, between Wilson and Harmon?'
"Senator Bourne, in a strong lottcr to tho
republican national committee, urges that when
tho call for tho national convention is leaned,
'it shall contain a strong rccomrnondation that
in all states, wherovor practicable tho stato
committeo call presidential primaries at least
thirty days prior to tho ropublicnn national con
vention, thus giving overy member of ttteprty
an opportunity to oxprcHB his proforenco for
party candidates for president and vico presi
dent. " 'I urge this action, upon you bocauso L be
llovo It in right' in prlnclplo and expedient as. a
party measure. It la right in prin
ciple becnuao the mombera of tho party aro
ontitled to an cffectlvo voice in tho selection
of candidates they aro expected to support- foe
oloctlon. It Is oxpodlent as a party measure,
for no party candldato could go before tho coun
try with a strongor argument than that ho' had
been selected by a dlroct voto of tho mombera
of his party and not by a convention domi
nated by operators of a steam roller.
" 'The power of popular poloctlon of candi
dates is of utmost Importance to good govern
ment, for tho ballot Is of littlo value to the
voter If ho must cast It for one or two candi
dates, both selected by federal officeholders or
professional politicians. Let us make this in
fact, as well as In name, a truly representative
government.'
"Tho Colorado legislature does not meet this
year, so there Is no chance of securing a presi
dential primary by legislative enactment. Even
did the legislature meet, there would bo no
chance, so rogrot is eliminated.
"There Is a way, however, by which the voters
of the state can be given the right to express
their preference in tho matter of party nomi
nees. Tho stato committees of tho two parties
can order presidential primaries.
"This, of course, will not bo done unless
powerful prcssuro is brought to boar on them.
Tho 'federal officeholders and professional poli
ticians,' noted by Senator Bourne, are largely In
control of tho two party organizations, and tho
names written on their slates are Taft and Har
mon. If loft to themselves unless brought
under tho domination of public opinion Taft
and Harmon delegations will go from this stato.
"Yet where Is tho man fn?e and unfettered
who will say that these men aro tho choices
of tho people of Colorado? Wilson and La Fol
lotte sentiment washes tho. stato In a tidal
wave. Under the present convention system,
however, there Is no chance for Its expression.
"Tho progressive of both parties should In
stantly commence tho agitation for presidential
primaries. There is not a single honest argu
ment that can be brought against them. Wo
now have direct primaries for tho nomination
of state and municipal officers and United
States senators, and surely the selection of a
president Is every whit as Important.
"Let tho party managers bo made to come to
tx 'showdown.' Tho demand must bo made upon
them. If they refuse It can only bo on tho
ground that they do not wish to bo guided by
the preferences and Instructions of tho people
that they do not care even to know thom.
"Is it not conceivable that tho 'loaders' will
think twice before making this answer? Even
In tho old days It was not wise to openly defy
tho people, and In this time of growing popular
power, it is not only unwise but exceedingly
unsafe.
"The agitation can not commence too soon.
Let every honest newspaper in tho Btate put this
matter of presidential primaries up to the state
chairman and the members of the state com
mittees. Let overy individual voter communi
cate his wishes in this respect to these eminent
and honorable gentlemen.
"The thing can be done, and It should be
done."
IVrUST BE PROGRESSIVE
Editorial in Denver News: There is every
reason for cheerfulness in the camps of tho
progressives both democrat and republican
but not the slightest ground for over-confidence.
The fight Is still on, and while every indication
' points to final victory, there Is still many a
trench 'to be carried, many a citadel to be
captured.