The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-22
FLooRED THE REFoRMERS.
PRACTICAL PoLITIcThEs sPoIL
WUCH BEAUTIFUL THEORY.

81.
the Primary Eisctiou Rersrus Convention
Omeers OF the Natiouai League Elected,
The second days session of tho National Pri
mary Election League was characterized by IN,
perfection Of n permanent national orsanizn
tinn, TO be known os the National Primary
Election League, and by the reading Of Dapers
and tho delivering OF addresses rather more &c
the point Of practical reforms than was rehshed
by the theorists who are leading factors in the
ieaguo's. discussions. The on ReGu'
lar Organization reported in the morning in
favor Of q national organization, haTing for its
purpose the encouragement of legislation in the
several states which shall properly regulate
the conduct OF enrollments, registrations, pri.
maries, caucuscs. conventions, nominations. and
elections, and assuring and insuring to voters
their rights as such. An executive
OF fifteen WINS authorized to prepare bylaws,
organize auxiliary branches in the different
States, arouse public sentiment, and arrange
for annual meetings. The constitution declares
that the league docs not assume to direct what
form OF statute law should be enacted in any
State and docs not hold itself responsible for
opinions or suggestions made in debates or
contained In any paper read before It.
The report was adopted. and the discussion
opened, with Mayor Quincy Of Boston in the
chair. Oscar Straus spoke Of the alleged evils
Of bossism. and declared that the people were
deprived of an intended right in the government
Of the municipality, State, and nation, and
George F. Rush explained q primary election
bill he had Just introduced in tho Illinois Leg
~islature. The provisions OF the bill did not
differ particularly from primary election laws
which have been in action in several States
for some time. When he had concluded his
explanation Mr.. Rush launched into q TRADE
against existing conditions.
"Our Government" said he, us an oligarchy
I'm fact, and an oligarchy Of a bad kind. because
the few who govern us are nor in sight for de-
struction. Ours is q Government by q few men
In q close, a soulless corporation known as the
regular organization We, the people, are in
convenienced. we arc repre,sed. We are shamed,
We are insulted, and we are robbed by this in
human oligerchy."
During the entire conference SO far the
theories which have been advanced, with few
exceptions. declared the popular vote plan as
the panacea for tho alleged evil OF bossism.
While numberless methods have been sug-
Rested they differed only in small particulars,
but no paper had been read reviewing the prac-
teal workings OF the popular vote system until
yesterday afternoon, when one was presented
by Tom L johnson. As Mr.. johnson declared
the popular vote plan an utter failure and n
menace TO public welfare, he was not applauded.
After having announced that the Crawford
county plan OF primaries for the selection Of
candidates by a direct vote had been in vogue
in some counties OF Ohio for fifteen years and
for eight years in Cuyahogs county, in which
Cleveland is located. the paper said:
During the eight years This system has been
in vogue in Cleveland it has proved 10 be posi-
lively harmful TO party success at the election
fSnowing the primaries since the contest for
Y, leaves the party weak and disorganiZed.
From our experience il would seem that the
the ability of a canG date for office. or. having
the ability, he has little inclination to use it.
nomination seeker. who can make the most
noisy canvass. who has the largest amount OF
stories OF his great Iove Of the common people,
Inherited from obscure ancestors and acquired
he most aioS Sot agn'' This i eep5ciaiLi V SO o When ne he
starts his convincing canvass, II he has mad
some notoriety. either savory or ,unsarory. 1t
Is a contamination deyoutly wished 10y \ can
dfdate .hat he be talkec about; ,LdI people
know his name; IL seeming TO be OF small in
DO favorable or otherwise.
In a county having a population OF 10000
age of the population. and it seems that almost
any sort OF publicity given a Ran Is sufficient
becomes a candidate for office. The voters
have heard his name mentioned: they have seen
name. and tsvfnepno inm n ki.6w Il HseS as ~ 10
his honesty or ability, or the honesty and ability
Of any other candidate, they vote for the person
whose name they have seen tho great r rum
Der of times Hence the Police Judge. who is
known 10 many persons and whose name is
u Al ~ papSiS o. u slaA VI lolht
OF ell ambitious politicians who aspire 10 the
highest public honors and who are generally
fnvincible.
'-fhe idea that a popular vote plan will with
draw the nomination OF candidates from polit-
Of the man in Office who seeks 10 perpetuato
himself therein are SO directed that when the
maries they fnd thai he politician has served
his purpose more completely than II he had
controlled the delegates in a cow an Ion. The
popular vote plan. when practically admins.
tered, gives opportunity for an immense use of
money: No candidate can hope for nomina-
ton without :naking heavy expenditures in adj
vertising his canvas and pushing it by the most
approved political methods. The hope that the
call forth a better class OF candidates has been
abandoned, since under this the crop Of candi-
convention plan, and Is Of surprising weakness
and great inability. The greatest frauds are
ficans and repeaters have gone from ward to
ward and voted for a particular list of candi-
dates. giving fictitious names and places of resi-
Mr.. Johnson's paper cited a number of in. :
stances, WHERE one faction had gained control of
turned a candidate irrespective u the vote Of
The paper was the first of its kind read and
was received with silence. Mayor Quincy. who
had given up the chair to l. l. Bond OF Chicago.
be was astonis6ed al MIR. Johnson's paper. but
did not believe that the system could he so worth
i hs w ws'a Of P Phe Spln resai EhaS Ssp sfG Fssf r. rs
land'and in Ohio generally must be widely diff
teTqnt rom those In New ENGLAND.
Edward J. Lauterbach. former President OF
the New York Republican County Committee.
was ne next speaker; II do not wish 10 be re,
said Mr.. ,Lauterbach. 'or as a man of %penitcnt,
sorrowfql mood. coming before you TO admit
corrupt practices that have been charged
against political organizations in the name OF
bOssism."
Mr.. Lauterbach then said that the Rspub-
ucan organization was as heartily in favor OF
clean primaries as any body OF citizens in the
country, but Il was also in favor Of the most
unequivocal Republicanism. believing II to he
the safeguard Of the republic. lie read a let.
Ter dated June 3 last, addressed by him to the
Allied Political Clubs Rs President OF the Re
publican County Committee, giving his views
on primary elections. The letter was pub
hshed at that time, and the writer said his
views, had not changed. He added:
u believe that party, fealty should be en-
couraged: that parties should exist as parties
and remain undivided, and that unless there
are two great political organizations. rep
resenting clear and defined ide us OF govern
mental policy the stability OF the republic is
NAVY aud fhair hnna.fa FnrEa - naF- -.nz.n !