The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-07-16

nominations in Tennessee are now made
by primaries. Nearly all of the Demo
cratic county committees Joined IN
request to the state committee to leave
the contest for governor to direct
primary But the state committee,
friendly to Governor Patterson, declin-
ed to accede to these demands and in
stead, ordered a primary convention
plan Under this scheme general prl-
mary election is being held in Ten
nessee today The two aspirants for
governor viii be voted for in each
county, and the delegates to the NOM
mating convention viii be instructed to
vote as unit for that candidate receiv-
ing majority in the county.
Thus the electoral college plan is
practically applied to the race. Senator
Carmack has made the direct primary
an issue in the campaign, and has de-
clared that he will not accept the nom
ination unless he has popular majority
of the votes cas- over the whole state,
Governor Patterson defends the pri-
mary-convention plan and says that he
will take the nomination If he has
majority of the delegates, even if his
opponent has the majority of the popu-
lar vote. But as prohibition is
the chief issue, the question of
how Tennessee stands on the di-
rect primary question may not be set
tied. The defeat of Governor Hoke
Smith of Georgia by "Little joe
Brown was reactiOnary in more ways
than one, as it involved protest
against direct primary which took
away the balance of power from the
smaller counties.
Kentucky has been one of the most
conservative of states in its election
laws, all voting having been done by
the open viva voce method until 1891.
The last of the states to adopt the
secret ballot, Kentucky now bows to
the reign of the direct primary. 1t has
been the cause of many party feuds
and fractional fights, but it is now ac
cepted as an institution.
Whether or not the voters in pri
mary are wiser in their selection of can
didates than delegates in convention,
is an open question. But the effect of
the primary on party government is UNI
doubtedly for the better. Important as
political organizations are to the bust
ness of government under our system,
it was not until the primary asserted
its power that the parties were given
legal recognition.
The necessity of enaeting laws to pro-
tect the primary elections and to pre-
vent fraud has caused the legislatures
of many states to enact laws which
govern parties and methods of making
nominations. This has prevented the
snap' nominations which were fire.
quent in the old days when the only
party laws were those promulgated by
the party committee, and which could
be changed at the will of that body.
If the present disposition of both
parties to yield more and more to the
direct primary continues, many great
changes in American politics may be
looked for. Suppose that in 1912 there
is a demand upon the national com
mittee of one or both of the great
parties for a presidential primary. 1t
will be refused, if precedent is follow
ed. Then it may become an issue in the
the defeat of a party candi
date may be traced to his attitude on
the question. Thus it is entirely posi-
Bile that by 1916 there will be a general
primary. i
It would be held, of course, on the
plan of that being held today in Ten.
nessee-the convention delegates from
each state being bound by the majority /.
Of the votes cast in their several states. |
From this step it is not far to direct |
primary of all the states. There is al !
ready sentiment to aid this develop i,
ment The Republicans of the northern !
states object to delegations from south |
arn states which never cast Republican !
electoral votes controlling Republican
nominations. In the Democratic con- !
Eention, Texas, with its solid majority, !
S always outvoted by Pennsylvania, /
which will never east Democratic !
electoral vote. The proposition to cut
,he southern representation in the Re- {
publican convention was defeated the
,ther day by very close margin and !
by the force of political necessity.
A direct presidential primary would
mock the props from under the notion
hat the United States is a federated
ystem of semi-sovereign states, per
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