Putnam patriot., 1908-09-25
Conventions ys. Primaries.

l The leading papers of the country are l discussing favofably the direct prima- l " to replace the present convention system. Speaking on this subject, the "Outlook. says: "'ro the founders of the American Republic the subject al
 nominations for public office was moi | matter of prime concern. In the early
 days the selection of party nominees | for important positions was Jeff otdi. narily to the party members of the lse. l gislatnre. The time came, however, l when the mass of the electorate object. ed lo this method ef selection; and l when king Caucus was dethfoned | bt the adoption Of the delegate eonNen= 1 ton system, the substitution wns con.
 sidered great victory for the people Since those days The subject af nom- | nations has received more and more public attention, At the present time
 we find the delegate convention syss tenn on trial before the bar of public | opinion, and large numbers Of citizens are demanding the abolition of the de | legate convention and the adoption in | lls place of the plan for the nominal tion of candidates by direct vote of the people.
 Wisconsin and Minnesota have had such law, for several years. Illinois has lust made its first trial direct pfi. mary law, and other Western States
 afe rapidly falling In line. Governor Hughes has recommended direct rfi.
 mary elccliuns fof New York.
 Ads oeates ef the delegate sy stem say they are In favor oi representative go- vefnment They believe in conNen-
 tions heeaase they Are delinefaliNe bodies
 1t k interesting to analyse this latter contention in the light ot the actual or der of things as they now exist In the early days conventions, no doubt, were real deliberative bodies. Hut the , element of delihetaliee k usually iaeA- ing in these days. It k in the field ot
 National politics that the convention
 K seen at its best. The conventions that nominated Taft and Bryan were ou,,, as erealtabie Ill their personnel and in their actions as any oi thett pte. | leeessors of recent years. Yet they were | far from being in any correct sense ae- i uberati,e. The very sizc oi the bodies makes real deliheiaii exceedingly difficult. Each convention had about ,ss, delegates. The presence of addi, | tional thousands q. spectators, who are no, only permitted Ia take part in the
 procsedings by prolonged demenstfa. lions of approval or disapproNai, eui
 are actually expected lo influence Inc course of history by such denonstfa- lions. is, of course, absolutely suoNet- sixe of deliheralion. Under sueh GIT eams,ances real dehate--that Is, at- ,.mpts Ia influence the opinions oi men hx ap,esl to their sober judgmenI--is | aa, of The question. The despatch of
 business makes IL almost imperative that the presiding officer adhe" 'o
 nrovramme outlined with greai delail l in advance. The best that such con >ention can dc, as ruie, Is to approve or .disapprove a course oi action out
 lined by few. Thus rule ey the eaiqaes
 andsthe slate makers k made easy The recent Republican and nemccrstie Ma tlanal Conventions were truly repre-
 sentative in one respect, and in one
 only. Each named for President the
 candidate whom the mass ei the party
 voters favored. The result in this res- , pecl, in other words, was the same as
 ii would have teen under the dise~t
 primary system.
 In both conventions were isctional
 eliqaes seeking To prevent ihe nenains-