The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-08
ABOUT PRIMARY ELECTIONS.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir. A.
THE Sun has kindly given place to my sugae..
tons concerning the application Of law To thu
regulation OF primary elections. ask perm,s.
sion to advance step further and to considsr
the details Of n law ~ be enacted for that pur.
pose
Ihnve remarked that the Missouri statute nos
pears to me to be imperfect. because its opera.
tons depend entirely upon the voluntary sc.
ceptanco by political associations OF the regala.
tons and safeguards 1t provides. The MIS-.
souri, lawmakers have advanced very cautiously
in the direction Of this reform. The Drmocrix
having n large majority in the Legislature. they
wero naturally tender in respect 10 porular
rights. and unwilling to present the appearances
of Interfering unduly with the electoral ma.
chlncry. or OF imposing upon the peoulcsany
burdens to which they would not willingly sub.
init. Their scrupcs deserve the highest respcctf
but II Is none tho less true that no measure that
tends 10 secure tho full, free. and fair exurcs.
sion Of tho popular will can be regarded ~ cun-
trary to Democratic principles. Tho Missouri
statute does not 70 far enough. because il ony
offcrs an opportunity for securing such an ex-
preston. instead Of providing the means 81
which 1t shall be absolutely secured.
| now say. first. that the regulation Of tAs
primary elections. substantially such US ia
offered py the Missouri statute should be- made
compulsory upon all parties. 1t Is nm unde-
nabo fact that the primary elections are tho
source Of all our political power. II the source
be corrupt. corruption will follow the course 70
the entire stream II we give only an oppor-
tunity to purify the source. It is to DO supposed
that some parties or some localities will fail To
avail themselves OF IT, The machine uoti-
clans. the governing clques. who have hitherto
assumed tho party management who have
manipulated the primary elections and named
tho candidates. will naturally object to having
that power taken from them and put in fhs
hands Of the people. They will be unwillngt1
resign their authority by voluntarily accepting
the regulations Of such a statute as that OF Ms
souri, Unless accepted 10y all parties and "a
all occasions. the benefit Of the regulations
would be but partial and temporary. As eyery
candidate who is eventually elected must be the
nomine' ~ one s't OF primaries we Woud galn
but it'll" If one party he run 10y tho upople,
while the others nre left 80 the mani pulations q
their machine opticians. Consequently, INC
regulations should he made binding upon al
parties and a. primary elections.
SecOndly-This object should he nreom-
plshed by declaring the inoligibility OF any cans
didatc who shall not have been nominated in
accnrdunco with the provisions and under thu
regulations 81 tle primary e,ectlon act; ! la
this point further than TO sny that this i ina
plaincst and most onectual means to the dc-
sired end and that We have the same right ia
rescribe regulations for the proper nomina-
lion Of candidates rs to prescribe the qualiiica-
tions ~ men who may be eecte.l
Thirily-The eighth section II the Missouri
law. which provides that " no expense snail 10
incurred To- the county or state IN the cuutr's Il
seems To- m" 10 be an entirely proper proyisicn
10 Incorporate in q general at Tor the rcguia-
ton OF primary elections. II WAS evidently e1-
pcrlmentnl, hut It's tendency arpears 20 be go. u.
In voluntary act IL would probably have ihe
rsGao He E h R"[ oEsc rg would n ~
in regard 70 II compulsory act. II the county Vt
state should assume the entire expense of tho
primary elections. we might reasonably exTeet
that host Of petty and ephemeral organ m
tons. calling themselves parties would thrust
themselves forward and claim 10 hold primary
elections. entailing a heavy cost upon The pub
tho pockets II their ISad@rs CHmnHiIi ~, Inc
parties tn hear their own expenses would 81
course Shut of all such swindles. A resula-
ton might be made by which the county or
state should assume portion II tho expense.
but this does not seem H. me To- be desirable.
II may he objected thnt such nm act would
limit tho number of candidates thni II would
prevent scrub races that it would hinder the
formation and growth 81 now parties ana indie
pendent movements. There II surely nothin a
wrong IN recognizing facts that actually exist.
Parties do exist. and in agoncral law applying
to al parties and political associations. il would
not be- necessary 10 recognize any II thom hy
name. orto give any Of them definite icsai
status. As for independent or scrub candi.
dates 1t may be said generally that II q cauii-
date Is unwilling or unable to get q nomination
under the not no had better moi run II h" Ia
not enough supporters to boar the expense cf
primary election. he Will do well 20 save tlla
cost Of his canvass. Tho Limitation Of the NUM-
Der of candidates would surely not Doe an M
mixed evil, and am inclined to believe thar Il
might be a positive good. Although the candle
dates would be- less plentiful they would bee 4
h"tter quulty. The same considerations auplY
10 Independent movements. These mainly
arise from the fact that the people often nsi
themselves unable 10 impress their will ulun
the parties which are controlled by the maolllns
politicians through their manipuation uf -hs
primaries. Purify the primaries. 80 that Tho
parties may Ice run by the people. instead 4
the managing cliqucs. and there will be- ICES
occasion for independent movements. Such as
may really b' demanded hy public sentiment
VIII easily Ind supporters who will pay the e1-
tics" objections. II Il oVcrhurne hy the graut
necessity OF securing an absolute ami untraIn-
melted "Xi rc--ion If the popular Will.
II the llNn for lcgali2ing the primaries 70 an
10 render those suhordn elections quite frcs
and fair, should have the effect ~ | believe ft
would, OF bringing out the fun strength If tho
purity, u would have the further useful effect Of
conveying valuable information concerning tho
party force. and the record ofthc vote n the pri-
mares would serve rs M important check upon
frauds al tho general elections. II the Demo-
cratic vote II the two F-lirianas in Louisiana.
had been brought ont aud recorded az ~ mary
election, II would have hcen comparatively easy
to decide the question Of intimidation.
conclude these suggestions 10y Veuturing tho
remark tiu the rurnl members Of our Lcgisla-
iurc would gladly aid IN passing su n an act IS
IL here advo at"d. A. they appear 10 arlrntly To-
SIR" the publication Of the politics II the large
cities. JFFrERsoNiAN.