New-York tribune., 1909-03-28
way to administrative favor and governmental

way 20 administrative favor and eoVernnnehSsi
control
Some urge that this viii interfere with TepTs- Iy-
SENTATIVE government The reverse Is true We
aim 70 secure better representative goVernnle...
End n particular TO achieve representdCEe 20 20 -,
government True conservatism consist .S.,- -
Facilitating party despotism and IN maintaining
forms Of representation without the supsleiIC, I,
but in projecting our institutions by InshLL.s Insi
mart. action freer and giving party candidacles
The proper support Of expressed party oPiiiIolt,
Members of the Legislature ana our electeu
executive officers in city, county ana state &C
chosen directly by the people This Is not q per
version OF q representative government nor =
n q perversion Of representative pa 3t -
1nent, but, the contrary, II Is Us secoi-tS' -
provide that those who represent Lhe PaItS a.
sts candidates for election snail De chosen az. a.
rectly by the party voters al the prlnals, JUS y.
rs the elected officer himself is CHOSEN 81 tne
general election by the direct vote OF the peoPle
At large. ..... ,.-,.,, .bo
recalled initiative and referendum The latter
relates TO Initiating legislation or enactlng II ps
-op7lla- vote But because we DO not want laws
=, ne made bv popular vote IS reason WY
we should not choose our legislators by popu4aC
,rore We 90 that now. And direct nominations
,ars1z, moan that PARTY candidates for the Leg
tslature and other elected officers sha1l os Cnosei
by direct vote Of the party members. PS &C. &C.
ting rid OF the present methocs OF olcCaILtIs oLaI
nominations Of party candidates We buttress
representative government and make less nAe-y
xhe success Of measures that threaten IL
orr r,ost sturdy opponents seem TO admit that
something must be done There are tnose "no
would patch up the present delegate system
Isut this will not answer the purpose II IS IN
SISTED that the party voters are supine and IAN
20 take advantage % their opportunlnes- IN
doubtedly there should be much greS3,ei tsais
est on the part OF our citizens in puphc eIIaIrs
But the mischief cannot altogether De asc,lpeo
- their indifference The system @ losst = +,,et e
Sazilt It makes opposition TO the powers Inst I
control too difficult and encourages feelng
pf hopelessness. It Is absolutely fmpossio!e Ior
-he great mass of the party voters 20 oe CON
etsnfiv active politically. The aim should be 10
s5m2lify the means for expressing Ihelr Wlsiies s
knd TO make such expressions erect anu ene0-
rive
DELEGATES MERELY PAwoIs-
PARTY voters ars interested in candidates. not
Se1egates. It is natural that they shou4o hoI
be interested in the selection OF mere lnUeI-
Fne5iaries Experience has taught them how
-pasv II is for these 10 be captured or caJoied
s.ontests over delegates are frequenuy merS
contests between rival leaders, and II Is prac-
sically recognized that the oalegates IN eltneI
case win be the mere pawns Of the competing
BuI il is said that the delegates may be
pledged IF 50. Why have them? II they are
Hbsolutely pledged the delegate system IS a
mere cumbersome and roundabout way tor ar
siving at the result The delegates VIII merely
represent so many votes which = Vou4o oe
xanpler 10 cast directly And TO the extent
ifI1at the delegates ars not absolutely bound the
old rnischiefs will appear If you want 10
secure the expression Of the Will Of the party
10 vote directly for candidates
CENTRAL FEATURE OF BILL
The central feature OF the so-ealied Hinrnsn-
Green bill which nag beer Introduces in the
1-eE
Offices shall be nominated by direct vote OF the
apartv members at the party primary. IL Is
direct nominations bill. II does rot apply TO
United States Senators, for the federal Constl-
tUticn provides that these shall be chosen by
<he LEGISLATURE. and it has not been thought
advisable TO attempt 20 bind the members OF
4he Leoisature in the discharge OF their con-
stitutjonal function IL does not apply to town,
Village and school district officers, as It has been
deemed best not to deal with these minor OFFICES.
IL does not apply to Presidential electors, as
these are mere foureheacs, and when the canc-
GATES for President and Nice-Presoent have
been chosen at national conventions the selec-
3ion OF the electors may be left to the party
authorities.
But the bill does apply TO the nomination of
rar+v candidates for other offices 70 be filled at
the General election and TO the selection of dele
Gates TO the national conventions. lf II becomes
8 law the candidates for these offices will be
F1on7inafed, and the delegates to the national
conventions will be chosen. by direct vote OF the
party voters at the respective party primaries.
Now, while believe in direct nominations,
also believe in properly safeguarding this
method and in protecting il from abuse.
II IS important that the party voters should
be ascertained by proper enrolment system
extending throughout the state. Where per-
sonal registration is required. the voters
be enrolled when they register. as is-the present
practice in our large cities
Where personal registration is not required,
rs in cur rural communities. the names Of