The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1899-12-07
DIRECT NOMINATION.
Political Parties Should Ask the PeO-
pie TO Express a Direct Choice.
A Little Work, "The School Of Poll.
ties," Given to All Mail Sub.
scnbers as Premium.

THE JOURNAL is an advocate of direct
nomination of all party candidates. 1t
believes that the delegate conventions
as they are conducted breed chicanery
and corruption, and too often the candi-
dates are bound hand and foot to some
powerful faction before they are elected
by the people and forever afterward.
THE JOURNAL is offering mail subscrib-
ers as premium little book, which is
an exposure of the present nominating
system, from the primaries to the
county, state and national conventions.
II was written in 1895 and was pub
lished early in 1896, before the presi-
dental election. II was written before
the national conventions were held.
The developments Of the last three
years have proven the truth of all
charged and strengthened the position
taken in every page of this book.
1t will be seen that the predictions
made have been and are being verified.
Under an absolute monarchy there is
always the chance that good monarch
may occasionally come 10 the throne
and during his lifetime, give the people
a good government but under the boss
system and machine rule we are sure Of
q government by the worst element a
good share OF the time.
A change OF parties is only a change OF
bosses. The Democratic organization in
New York City, known as Tammany, is
the personfcation of the spirit OF spoils
politics; and Tammany is seeking TO
control the national Democratic organi-
zation. No matter what our private
opinion Of the Chicago platform may be,
we know that we can never expect per-
manent reform in government at the
hands Of selfish bosses, nor until the
people themselves both nominate and
elect
We must change our system in the
direction Of giving the people at large a
direct voice in nominating every candi.
date not only in the election, but in the
ntlffAlbH vi NiAN NoiAAhAA'os
The people mu IT oxercise the powe
now welded by the bosses. The few
managers Of parties who exercise that
power for partisan purposes thereby be-
come bosses. Therefore the power Of
making party nominations should be
diffused among all the people, and not
be allowed TO become concentrated in
the hands Of few.
This little book Is intended not as
solution Of the problem, but As an earn
est study Of the subject, pointing out
some Of the evils OF the present system,
and indicating the direction in which
reform must proceed.
ENDORSING GOOD OFFICIALS.
How are county officials or the mem
bers OF tho last legislature to be re-
warded for faithful service and good
records II the people have no direct
voice in their nomination? A county
or city official, legislator or state or
fetal, who serves conscientiously, heaps
no burdens on the people, makes
model public servant, cannot be re-
nominated as a candidate unless he
suits the bosses who make the states.
Is this right? Is il democratic9 The
remedy is in the hands Of the people
under the proposed plan OF Direct
Nomination.
Nomination and election are two steps
Of one political funetion-alling the
public offices. Nomination as now prae'
ticed by parties is highly centralized,
aptOcratic power; 10 a system that
leads 10 corruption, extravaganza, high
taxes and oppression Of the people.
Election is democratic nomination must
be equally democratic or our system
OF filling the public offices will continue
10 be more or less a failure.
To practice Direct Nomination the
people need not wait for the enactment
Of any new laws, or for any party 10
adopt the system. II can be practioed
by the people Of any precinct, city,
county, district, or state. All that is
needed Il for an individual or com
mittee 10 take a ballot for certain
office. The people will nominate.
There Il an ideal la the mind Oi the
u4Ople for every Office b b. hlled.
Given opportunity for free expression
among themselves, the people viii aP-
proximate this ideal more nearly than
any delegate convention managed BY
political bosses.
Wm YOU not help inaugufate Direct
Nomination ia OregOn3 Backed by an
indeuendent press. with Direct NOmi-
nation of candidates, the people giil
&c the government Ia their own
hands and need not beg Tor piece
meal reforms aud accidental gool con
duct al The hands Of their Pnbiic ser-
wants.