New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-10
SENATE AND PRIMARY.

Louisiana is the latest State TO adopt the
South Carolina and Mississippi primary election
system Under pressure from public sentiment
"a sentiment effectively voiced by The New
Orleans Times-Democrat" and The New-Or-
leans Picayune'-the Democratic managers in
Louisiana have Just thrown overheard the old
delegate scheme Of party government and have
accepted the newer theories of unchecked popu-
lar rule. a Governor and other State officers
are 10 be voted for next April and legislature
is 70 be chosen which will elect United States
Senator. AT it's meeting last week the Demo
cratic State Committee decided unanimously TO
dispense this year with the customary State
convention. and to order in its stead a primary
election, ar which nominees for State offices
and for the United States Senatorship are to be
chosen by popular vote. The primary is to be
held in November or December, on a date not
yet fixed. If the theory Of popular party
ereignty works as well in Louisiana as it has
elsewhere. primary elections will, of course, be-
come a fixture. and one more Southern State
viii have found a means Of reviving in its poll
tics a certain measure of genuine and invigorat-
ing strife.
The spread Of the primary system in Southern
States. where political activities have become
stagnant and party government corrupt and ir-
responsible. has been noted in these columns as
n sign OF wholesome progress. In reawakening
the political energies and stimulating the politi-
cal curiosity Of the Southern people. the Free
full and honest canvass Of sentiment now COM
ing into vogue viii prove Of inestimable public
service. But there is another curious mission
ii seems destined 10 accomplish In subjecting
TO popular ratification every nomination for an
Office ia the States gift it will go far toward
establishing a more direct method Of choosing
T~.,f4a In,
Mississippi. Florida. Arkansas and Louisiana
Senators are now nominated by popular poll,
and wherever the system adopted in those
States spreads Senator hereafter can be
elected who has not submitted his candidacy 10
the voters themselves.
As an ingenious and effective means OF over
ruling the spirit Of the federal Constitution the
South Carolina Mississippi primary answers
every practical purpose OF the agitators strug-
Cling 10 secure the popular choice Of Senators
10y amending the federal compact No more
violence is done 10 the plans and purposes of
the founders Of the government in designating
at the polls a nominee whom a legislature must
send 20 the Senate than in binding Presidential
electors 10 vote for certain nominee for Presl-
dent In one case. as I'm the other the trend Of
sentiment has set away from the designs and
safeguards OF the fathers. Ii has regulated
their preference for schemes Of delegated and
| graduated power. and set its face toward sim
! pier. more direct and more democratic aiec+5va
4 machinery. As in the case with the Presidenrx
/ public opinion may deprive the legislatures of
| all but the shadow Of their present power 70
| choC - United States Senators: and how easily
/ this can be done has been already demonstrated
! in the States which have adopted the direct nr;
/ mary system.
We do not look for any bat the most gradual
| change in our present method of electing Sena-
tors To pass a constitutional amendment en-
| forcing a single rigorous election rule seems
neither desirable nor possible. Agitation for an
! amendment Is already meaningless in States
! which have adopted the popular election plan
| In other States the change viii come-and
should come-only when conditions are ripe for