The Washington herald., 1908-06-26
By FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

With the Republican convention Just
behind. and the Democratic convention
just before them. the American people
are greatly exercised at this time about
the who's. why's. and hows Of getting
the nomination" So far as national pol
iucs Is concerned, one might search the
Constitution and the laws forever and
never find one word to authorize a politi-
cal convention. or to give power to a
conventions mandate. Yet vas' num-
Der OF the voters Of the United States
place action Of the convention above their
own convictions and vote for the nom
inee regardless Of personal preferences.
And OF the members or the electoral
college. none has ever disobeyed the
command Of his party convention.
Political party nominations are neces-
sary TO IN career Of the American
statesman. No man is so great that
he can enter public life without the
aid OF nomination to help him TO office,
or the capacity to control nominations 20
help others to Office. The infrequent sue
cesses Of independent candidates for
minor Offices mark the exception which
but proves the rule. Therefore il is
apparent that the whole fabric OF our
political institutions rests upon the pO-
ltical party nomination. The voters can
choose no better man for President than
Is nominated by the parties. The So
called independent voters can never Sc
lect a man 10 serve IN the White House.
That section OF the public may induce
n ~ 80 oil 49,
a promise OF the independent vote but
under ordinary circumstances It must
take what the parties give Il; the greater
or two goods. or tho lesser OF two evils.
J.st a. THIS time II IS interesting to
mark the progress Of the nominating ma
ch.nery OF the American political parties
III the beginning there was the caucus
then came the delegated convention. and
now the direct primary election bids
fair 20 carry the machinery to its most
democratic extremity. There Is great
talk Of conventions that are boss-ridden
and the like. There has been such talk
before; ever since conventions were held
n fact. The greater volume OF COM
plant now is but the evidence OF The
increasing purpose OF the people 10 take
the power Of nominating into their owu
hands
Leaving aside the hosts OF municipal
county. State. and Congressional offices
FOR which nominations are already made
by direct primaries In many States. Il &.
interesting to apply the theory OF the
direct primary 10 the nomination :or The
Presidency. the most important function
exercised by political party.
The trainers OF the Constitution did not
believe the people possessed sufficient
wisdom and judgment 20 select the Chic
Executive Of the Federal government
They battled long over the proposition o
leaving that selection 10 the national leg
!slature. or OF intrusting II 20 the severa
State legislatures. In the end, they lef
Il 10 electors 10 be appointed by the va
rious Statesmen by the people OF III,
States-in such manner as each Stat
. Legislature might direct.
The Constitution was null and voic
from the very beginning, so far as IN,
spirit OF this provision was concerned
The people had every confidence N thei
ability 10 select q President, and they
were very careful to choose as elector,
only those persons who would reflect IN,
popular will. Thus the electoral colleg
came 20 be merely an empty form. so "a
as the constitutional function Of choosing
u President Is concerned Il is very IA
from being an empty form. IN that
provides a system which gives the small
er States more power in proportion {
their population than would obtain in
direct vote. and thus makes the selection
Of a minority President possible.
The fathers declined the proposition Z
vest the power OF selecting a Presiden
IN the hands Of Congress. out Of consid
GRAFTON for the integrity Of the tri-partit
system OF government they were estab