Evening journal., 1909-02-26
Friday, February 26, 1909
DIRECT NOMINATIONS.

L \ providing for direct nominations by the
people, of all State and county officers, and for
the expression of the voters clioice as to the
election Of United States Senators, no doubt,
caused the members to turn up their eyes. Com
ing as it does towards the close of the legislative
session it has little chance of adoption. Della
ware is conservative in such matters, and yet
the ideas embodied in Mr.. Donohoj measure
have been widely discussed in many States,
chiefly throughout the West. In New York
Governor Hughes is waging the political battle
of his life to secure direct nomination plan on
the ground that such nominations give the vot-
ers better opportunity to get what they want
in political contests.
Now and then articles have appeared in some
of our State exchanges favoring direct nonlina-
tions of candidates for the Legislature and for
county officers, in Kent and Sussex. We have
that plan in large part in this county, but in
Kent and Sussex the nominations are made by
conventions Direct nomination is the chief
point of Mr.. Donoho's bill, but, OF course, the
details worked out.
In many Western and Southern States 1t is
the custom of voters to express their Senatorial
preferences and the Legislature usually abides
by the choice of the people. The candidates Tor
the Legislature are often asked whether or not
they will obey the mandate OF the people Tor
Senator. candidate can answer yes or no, for
there can be no Law forcing him to respect the
wishes of the voters as under the constitution
the members of legislatures can vote for whom
they please
While the plan has worked we'll in many
states sometimes it causes complications as IN
the case of Oregon where the people voted for
a Democrat for Senator and elected kepuDh-
can Legislature.
In Wisconsin, one Of the states where the d-
rect nomination plan has been received with
most favor, there is big wrangle over whether
Senator Stephenson shall be reelected Mr..
Stephenson won against the LaFollette faction
at the primaries, but his opponents aTe making a
desperate fight to prevent him from again Sc
curing the coveted seat in the Senate The
constitutionality of the direct primary plan, so
far as it relates to United States Senator's IS
called in question. petition has been hled IN
the Wisconsin courts to prevent the Wisconsin
Legislature from making an appropriation with
which to investigate the charges that Mr..
Stephenson used money illegally at the prima-
ries which resulted in his nomination.
This petition attacks the entire system OF di-
rect nominations so far as it relates TO Senators
Therefore, any further adoption of the plan is
likely to be halted until the courts have eN-
pressed an opinion on the matter
However, should the plan be upset by the
courts, according to some Western papers, the
movement for constitutional amendment pro-
vding for the election OF Senators by the peo-
pie will take life.
The Chicago Record-Herald, in commenting
upon the matter, Says
There is little reason to fear that the
direct primary for Senators Will be over
thrown on such grounds. But if it is,
then actual election of Senators by di-
rect vote of the people will certainly
come about by constitutional amend
ment An overwhelming Sentiment in b
favor of this has been recorded through
state legislatures and representatives in
Congress- An immediate, irresistible inn
petus to the movement would follow
knockout of the primary idea in the
courts.
The plan, so far as it relates to Senators il
this State has not been considered to any grea
extent Under direct plan the present Senators
would probably have won as easily as they wor
by the votes of the Legislators.