New-York tribune., 1909-02-21

If ,.srn,it the presentation of names of candi
dates and furnish opportunities for open ,tS silS
fair consultation by the party committees Wntch
have heen duly chosen and whose representative
character has been reasonably assured III Sae
manner already stated Ihus' the e staee Char,
mittee would present the names OF tnose WY ~
they propose as candidates for state oflces; tle
county committee those proposed as canoluaIss 's
for county Offices etc. Provision should De tleue
strictly regulating the meetings OF the commit
tee at which action will be taken Win
10 the names TO be presented; me asIca If can
would not have the right Of Anal choice Oh ,d eae
d,dates The names they certify will be placeo
upon the ballot; other names may be presSlcs ,nosa
by petition. sand the party voters VIII N'
the men they want candidates
FEATURES OF PLAN.
As to this plan ii may be noted
! II provides opportunity for respoIslp3Ie any ~
omen consultation by elected representatives OF
the party voters .tor h,, those
rsnresentatfves coming from all parts OF giVeI,
district of questions relating to geosrapiiiSoi
distribution Of candidates.. 81 -, ili IN
g. Those influential In party ananS i isbaa
apy event have their candidates and their WISHES
viii be known to their followers I1dep e @
rroposed plan party committees wouia ps r. r.
puIIed 70 EXPRESS their preference openly ana the
origin of candidates. could be properly traoeu.
4 Where the representatives OF pa. 80. - 20
sctuated nv honorable motives, and are true 70
its interests they would be enabled 10 pfesenit
candidates in responsible manhGi 9'"7
the public the reasons for their choice -
3 Where, however, party repfeseiiitt9,liN,s , 20 a. a.
either corrupt or obtuse. and the candidacies are
the result Of deals represent Favored go
they would be more reduliy ii'i
easily opposed. A., ,.,,,,er
G. It would tend largely TO reduce the numDer ]
of candidates Probably many woait oe IT,
nominations could be made by petition ana e!ia1
the final decision lay with the party voters
.end TO insure the presentation by the cofniIill-
tees of acceptable names and make opposition
unnecessary and fruitiess.
4 On the other hand. II an un"1['1S % or y. cnn nn.
were presented the tendency would be 10 COZ. oI
centrate the opposition by uniting upon 'io
strongest opposing candidate ,o coma
It may also be supposed that WheFe SOM SON.
names presented would be acceptable. ana others
not acceptable the primary contest would PF@ac @
ticalII h. limited to the latter This would have
a powerful tendency to prevent unworthy hoi'4i
nations for minor places on the ticket
g. 1t would permit responsible fusion move
ments and allow representatives or party
committees to confer together ana WIN otnet
citizens. and 20 agree upon the presShtaI9u 20. ~
names Fusion movements must depenu i ~ Iu
their strength upon the honesty OF thei Pu
nose and the support of public opinion. Not
only would fusion be possible, but the hecessil!
of ratification by the voters at the primary
would be a check against movement whlch ala
not have public sentiment behind II
9 So also with regard TO judicia! noTlna-
tions opportunity would be afforded for proper
consideration and the presentation OF names
upon which a general agreement could De had.
Public sentiment would have It's lnnuence III Tue
first instance with regard to the names pre-
sented by party committees, but II II was out
ragged by refusing f0T example renomimaI1on Ia,1r
10 a political leader. because of narrow or
partisan grounds. the question would be re-
ferred 70 the party voters. And II must not be
forgotten that the sentiment in favor Of recog-
mixing worthy Judges without regard TO parti-
sanship is the sentiment primarily Of the mem
bers Of the parties themselves
DIRECT VOTE STILL NECESSARY
10 Finally. the principle Of the choice OF
the party nominee by direct vote is not sacri-
feed. The direct vote IS still necessary before
the nomination be made. But the principle
Is applied in way which VIII guard against
dan rfu r.Ef or III 4 Eft
If experience proves that presentation OF
names by party committees is unwise, the next
step will be simple one and this privilege of
the committees can be taken away. In the
mean time the party voters will have become ac-
customed TO direct vote for party candidates
and to the use of the machinery for direct nom
nations
Sixth-ProportionaI Representation-It has
been strongly urged that under system OF di-
rect nominations rural districts would be at
disadvantage compared with cities. Expert
ence does not support this statement. II pro-
ceeds upon the theory that voters in the city
Will be united in favor of city eandidate..>on
the contrary, the man who has made an impress
sion upon the state or upon his district by rea-
Of his public service or qualifications for
Office will attract the vcters. matter whore
he may happen 20 live. In fact, direct nomina-
tions furnish the best safeguard for rural COM
munities by giving them an opportunity TO bring
forward Of worth and independence ana
thus resist the domination OF city Leaders whose
growth and power favored by the present
system. That rural communities have not
failed successfully to avail themselves OF this
privilege where the law he's given them the
chance there IS abundant evidence.
But IL is rot necessary 10 detail this evidence,
for It is a very simple matter TO provide means
which will prevent the result feared Such
means may be found In a system OF proportional
representation by which the party voters IN
given communities districts will be entitled
TO throw their weight in the primary in proper
ton to the party vote cast in such communities
districts at the last preceding general cleo
ton.
seventh-Prir1ary Ballot-There should be
an tai rriTO Candidates
bershp in party committees and candidates for
nomination for elective offices should appear IN
distinct portions of the ballot There should be
no columns corresponding to the party columns
the election ballot, but the candidates should
be grouped under the title Of the of1ces and
should be separately voted for
In the case of candidates for membership in
party committees, for the reasons have already
given, no candidate group Of candidates
should have any advantage by preferential po-
sition upon The ballot.
In the case of candidates for nomination for
elective offices, however, there are grounds which
justify the presentation of names BY party COM
rnittess in the Sfirst instance. In this view il
would not be improper but would appear to be
natural, TO have such names placed first under
the respective offices. These names arc the first
in the field and presented for the purpose
of being supported or opposed according to the
view ct Their merit .,.o or dsmor,t: Other names
alphabetical order or in the order in which the
petitions fled
Whatever position any candidate may have
upon the ballot, practical equality in the contest
can be secured by numbering the names Of the
candidates oonseoutiveIy from the top to the
bottom of the ballot so that each candidate will
have a different number. matter for what
Office he may be presented. This would include
n1ittees and the candidates named by petition,
and ii would furnish in a simple manner cor
reetive for Disadvantages which might be sup
posed to inhere in any arrangement of names
that has been suggested.
Under a practical plan of direct nominations
n lrtt aI al.