The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1904-05-27
Primary Reform.

ical conventions, are so inflamed by the
overwhelming victory at Grand Rapids
OF those who advocated declaration in
favor OF a primary law which would
preserve the state convention, that they
have absolutely refused to view the
matter with fairness or honesty. They
vehemently insist that the action was
antiprimary reform; that it was design.
ed and will have the effect of crushing
out any reform of the primaries by leg
islative action and was the work of a
great body of men from all parts of
Michigan imbued with sinister desire
to "debauch the electorate and to ''re-
tain Doodle conventions.
Such Interpretation of the action at
Grand Rapids is to be expected from
newspapers of the politically hermaph.
rodite class, such as the Detroit Evening
News and the Detroit Tribune, but we
confess to surprise when we note that
personal disappointment in the outcome
has induced the Detroit Journal and the
Grand Rapids Herald, heretofore dispos.
ed generally to interpret republican
policies with some regard for the truth,
to trail in behind and join in the fire. in
the-rear attack upon the integrity of
the S0S delegates who decided the ques-
ton at last Wednesdays convention
We have no doubt, however, that these
republican newspapers will not be long
in coming to realization of the unfair
ness Of their course and abandon ALI
ance with the organs of hypocrisy and
deceit
Anyone who has followed this primary
reform movement without prejudice
knows that the action at Grand Rapids
reflects the overwhelming sentiment of
the mass of the party. There exists a
small fraction that has insisted from the
start that the present system needs no
change at all; larger fraction that has
been vehement for ripping up the pres
ent system, root and branch, and at one
sweep to revolutionize methods that the
party has used for so years; a much
larger section that, recognizing need of
improvement, has favored cautious
and careful advance, and fourth por-
ton, probably greater in number than
the other three combined, that has been
uncertain, whose ideas have been slow
to crystalline upon the subject
= Discussion has been going on for
long time. The radicals for long time
have monopolized most of it, voicing
their arguments loudly and quite gen.
orally assailing the personal integ
rity of every one who has ventured to
combat their views, The vote at Grand
Rapids is fair result of this discussion.
There were S0S out of 1,070 delegates,
favoring middle course and refusing
to abolish the state conventions, who
voted for the optional method of institu-
ting the reform of the primary system.
To show clearly what that action was,
the plank in the platform is here repro
duced
1--WE favor a general primary law that
will insure every municipal and politi-
cal district in the state the right to de-
eide for itself the method by which it
shouldnominate its candidates for pub
lie Office and delegates to the state con-
ventions. We favor the retention of the
state convention for the nomination of
state officers, believing the best inter-
ests of the public and the republican
party will be best subserved thereby"
This is direct and clear.cut. This
principle, if enacted into law, will per-
NIT each political district at its option
to establish direct nominations and di-
rect choosing of state convention dele
gates at the polls. If the state desires,
every political division-precinct, ward,
city, township, county, congressional,
legislative-may at once change its |
system so that it will control absolutely |
its nominations and the selection of its |
delegates. If all the districts should |
adopt the law all conventions, except |
the state nominating, would be abolished |
That it is wise party policy and con-
ducive to organized execution of party
policies and purposes to retain the con-
vention, is beyond question from the
party standpoint. Direct representa-
ton from the people should operate to
eliminate bossfsm from the convention;
it should purify convention methods
where they need purifying; it should
minimize the evils that exist If it can
not do this no system of reform to be
conceived on earth can do it, and a popu-
lar form of government, government by
the people, is a fraud, a delusion and a
chimera. If money can be used cor
ruptly in state convention made up by
representation chosen by county conven-
tions, it of course can be used in con-
vention made up Of delegates directly
chosen. Like the leopard, the spots on
weak human nature cannot be changed
by legislation. The use of money has
nothing to do with the system itself now
In operation. AS matter of fact the
use of mOnev in tho caypois,,, of 1QO0