The San Francisco call., 1907-03-10
a FALsE or FOOLISH FRIEND or DIRECT PRIMARY

A PPARENTI-Y from the depths o abysma ignorance
Of subject Chronicle drags another exposition
OF the alleged fraities of the HedWght constitutional
amendment ponderously asserting: 1T is evident that
under this amendment if adopted presumably will would
be competent the push begin operations by holding
tons making the nominations the give and take principle
present also lay down principles and prescribe
certain by which all candidates purpong to belong to
There IS no provision in the HeldWright amendment upon
which the ordinary intelligence could base such deductions
This amendment will be adopted by the people because the people
demand emancipation from the corrupt boss rule that has reduced
the California electorate piabe political serfdom and
because under the eldMrg amendment the next Legislature
is free real direct primary election law How under
anything that appromate real direct primary law it would
be competent Tor the push TO begin operations by holding con
and making nominations be solved only by minds
that have not the anest conception the basic principle OF direct
primaries IS expressly provided IN the tield-rgh amendment
that the Legislature and political parties organizations OF
electors shall have the prescribe the tests and conditions
ior participation in the direct primary elections
Again the Chronicle ngenuousy admits I'VE do not know the
or inserting the words political parties organizations OF
electors direct nomination by electors would seem quite sufhcent
fulfill the popular requirement That entirely
OF ignorance The provision Tor direct nominations by
essential but by sufficient 1t provides,
every should provide for the nomination OF
independent this government by party
very properly purpose direct primary legislation
destroy parties party organizations put them
they belong the hands OF the people where they will be made
strong clean. representative and responsible.
Still struggling under the apparent deuson that the Held
Wright amendment direct primary
stead OF mere authorization Of legislation that cannot be secured
existing constitutional provisions, the Chronicle draws
weird picture OF party organizations paying bills TO advertise
by push because all candidates
qualify the conditions imposed by these push
Repetition OF this silly claim only indicate wiu at
msrepsen failure read that which repea
present constitutional confer the power political
parties prescribe and solely the Legislature
The Held-Mrgn amendment is direct primary
d what 10 be- proposed change in the organic
which when adopted will enable the people the kind
laws the Chronicle refuses understand 1t carefully
BY those who do know what direct primary election laws The
nconsequena changes yerbge made by the Legislature have
added nothing law By uninfomed criticism the
Chronicle either consciously uncOnsous lends itself the
OF the organization which having failed TO encompass the de-
of the HedMrig amendment before the Legislature
seeks accomplish its popular rejection by sheer Misrepresentation
The Chronicle has times pofessed its devotion the direct
primary principle generally between the times when serious
effort making that principle enacted into law Ii
possible will whether the
false friend Of the direct primary merely foolish