The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1910-01-28
THE DIRECT PRIMARY.

The last Legislature passed a law
which provided for direct primaries or
allowed the convention system at the
option OF the party management. Tit
is now proposed to amend this law by
making the direct primary mandatory
on all parties.
The force of this movement arises
\ from the idea, that the direct primary
will take power from sne politician and
give it to the people; that it is an ad-
vancement in the cause of popular
government If this theory is correct,
every one should be Tor it. But will
it do away with politicians, and will it
result in better officials? The answer
to these questions will fix the stand
we should take in dealing with this
important subject.
1t will not do away with the politi-
AS long as elections are held politt-
clans will exist. You may get rid of
one set, but to do so you create an
other. The direct primary will sim
ply enlarge the field of his activity in
both parties, for it will give two cleo
lions, and two sets of jobs for the
faithful, instead of one. And
t..cn, have you thought about the ex-
pense?
We have not yet seen the proposed
bill, but it is reported, that all candi-.
oates must pay certain fees and the
rest of the cost, the State
bears. No matter who appar-
apparently pays these costs, the COM
munity i'm the end has to foot the bill,
and it is wrong to spend this money
il the good received does not justify
it. The amount that candidates have
to pay will absolutely eliminate young
men of ability from seeking office or
serving their party as committeeman.
machinery in the hands of the wealthy;
so we fail to see how it will operate
other than to create more professional
politicians and subject the community
to much unnecessary expense.
Wouldn't it be better to try and amend
the law so that the costs OF our pres
ent elections could be curtailed, in
stead of adding another ?
No one will have the temerity to
deny that the State is served best,
when it's best men are conducting its
affairs; when those who are able and
courageous, hold public office. Every
one recognizes and comedies this to be
true. Therefore, it is to the benefit
and advantage of political party to
have such men as candidates.
But will the direct primary give us
better candidates and officials =? We
hardly think so, in fact we fear that
it will totally eliminate able men, un-
less they happen to have great wealth.
The average man votes for the person
with whom he is familiar, without re-
gard TO his qualification for the Office
he seeks. Many excellent men are re-
firing and practically unknown, until
tie Office seeks them and they are
nominated. They are brought for
ward, because the leaders know they
will make good officials. You can now
put your finger on the party who
makes nominations and hold him re-
sponsible if he fails to be true to the
public welfare and select proper men.
This responsibility forces party lead
But allow direct primaries and
what will be the result? No
one can then be held responsible
for the nomination, and irresponsible
and incapable men will be selected to
serve the public, if the party leaders
are Indifferent and corrupt. You need
not think the good citizen" will make
the nominations, the politicians
will control the primaries. We saw
how ii went in Baltimore City last
year. The good citizen" did not at
tend the primaries, the boys" alone
were out. And who will you blame
and punish for bad nomination then
Not the political leaders Of your party,
because they will say that the people
made the nomination. Don't you see,
that the direct primary will absolutely
eliminate responsibility, and that
there will be no one that can be
charged with bad nomination, for
it will be "the people did it,?
So what good will be accomplished
by the direct primary We can see
expense, annoyance, and incompetent
officials but no advantage to the cause
of good government. In what State
has it ever worked well ?
MID