New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-28

Al its last session the Mississippi Legislature
had forced on its consideration a project which
h carried into execution generally, might go
FAR toward cclipsinC the Caycty Of our polIt-
Zeal He This project. fathcred by some OF the
strenuous Teiormers who gather at Jackson
aimed at the extinction OF the political .hircd
man." at tho bovcotting by law Of the pro-
fessional manager the professional ''speII,
binder and the professional worker whose
activities are at present so much in evil
dence on our political stage Mississippi has
acquired much reputation recently as a forcing
house for queer political experiments. II lei
The way in regularizing negro acknowledgements
by requiring any voter who might be called on
10 read and construe inteIligeutly given
section ~ the State constitution. Ii undertook
10 discourage political activity by Introducing
QuadTennial elections and allowing its IaqisIat
IRE 10 meet in regular session only once In
four years. II has put in operation a system
by which all nominations for State officers for
Representatives If Congress and for United
States Senators are made az e1tra-legal priua-
ries open 10 Democratic voters only. 1t has
sa6dled the expense OF these extraIegal pri-
marics on Democratic candidates who present
themselves, absolving the State from anv cost
out That Of supervising and legslizlng the pri-
mary return. But radical and sensational as
those reforms have been. they pale before the
innovation now talked of-an innovation which
proposes 10 bar from the arena Of politics anv
and every performer who works for pay.
II seems 10 be the Mississippi idea that cleo
pioneering, II not held in check, viii yirtuaIIv
defeat the purpose Of the primary system.
which IS 10 open the field Of political rrefer.
ment 10 the humblest and poorest citizen. pro-
vidcd he Doe a registered Democrat At present
tho expense Of standing for a nomination for
Office need not exceed S125. But II IS argued
II candidates arc allowed to open State head
quarters. 10 employ speakers 20 draw 10 their
support army Of ''barkers" and camp fol-
lowers. al equality Of opportunity will vanish
An opening viii be made for expenditures ten
fines greater and more corrupting than under
the discarded system OF delegate conventions
IL IS proposed therefore. to make 1t n INSIDE
meanor for any candidate TO employ political
agents. or for any stump orator. headquarters
manager or other political worker 10 accept
/ from a candidate either compensation for ser
vices or an allowance FOR travelling expenses
4 Electioneering is 10 be made labor OF love
I 1t must proceed from disinterested patriotism
or from friendship uncrossed by any expecta-
! ton Of personal gain.
The standard Of political virtue set by this
! latest Mississippi project is, fear. little
e1acting FOR our stin unregenerate day. Such
! Spartan severity Of political practice clashes
with our present inclin8tions and present ideas.
/ Few "spellbinders' and campaign workers have
reached the point Of believing that political ac-
4 tvity should he its own reward. Altruism IS a
noble ideal But many eager patriots who now
make the welkin r>ng with their impassioned
e!oquence would find il hard to "spellbind" on
a phantom salary and an imaginary expense
/ account
Yet. n a little crude tho Mississippi idea is
deserving. Itz time viii como. The brass hand
period In politics viii pass. The spell
binder the canvssscr. the hired parader and
] shou.er viii some day ind their occupation