The San Francisco call., 1910-07-07
Roosevelt in Editorial Declares
Principle of Direct Primaries
Is Right
VALUE OF MEASURE
DEPENDS ON PEOPLE
Hughes Measure Is Practically
Free From Objectionable Fea-
lures, Says Colonel
LEADERS OUGHT TO
LEAD, NOT DRIVE

n i EN lOhhs July o.--f oIneT frSS-
IN ident Roosevelt deals with
Governor Hughes. the New
York legislature and primary reform
in a signed editorial in the current
number Of the Outlook. Roosevelt
writes as follows
II believe that Governor Hughes has
been supported by the bulk Of the
wisest and most disinterested people as
regards most Of his measures and posi-
tions. and I think that this has been
markedly the case as regards primary
nominations
II know that many honest and sin
cere men are on principle opposed to
Governor Hughes on this point and !
know also that the proposed reform
will very possibly accomplish less than
its extreme advocates expect; while
am well aware, as Of course all think
ing men must be, that the worth of
any such measure in the last resort de-
pends upon the character Of the voters
and that no patent device viii ever Sc
cure good government until the people
themselves devote sufficient energy,
time and judgment to make the device
work
Mistakes Made
Finally. freely admit that here and
there. where the principle Of direct
nominations has been applied IN too
crude shape, or wrong headedly. it has,
while abolishing certain evils, pro-
duced or accentuated others-in GER
tain eases. for instance. putting a pre-
n1ium upon the lavish expenditure OF
money.
But while 7 freely admit all this.
. nevertheless feel in the first place that
on the fundamental issue of direct pri-
mary nominations the governor is right,
and in the second place that as the
measure finally came up for action in
the state legislature, it was well nigh
free from all objections save those of
the men who object TO it because they
are fundamentally opposed to any
change whatever in the desired direc-
ton.
The bill provided only for direct
popular action in the primaries in rel
atively small geographical and politi-
cal communities, thereby making the
experiment first where there was least
liability to serious objection and avoid
ing or deferring the task of dealing
with those big communities where the
difficulties and dangers to be over
come would be greatest
Party Responsibility
The republican party was in the
majority in both houses of the legis-
lsture which refused to carry out the
republican governors recommends
tions. and although ii was only q mi
nority Of the republican members
which brought about this refusal. the
party can not escape a measure of
responsibility for the failure; but il
is only just 10 remember that a clear
majority of the republican members
Of each house supported the bill,
whereas three-qua rters or over OF the
democrats opposed it. This is one Of
the cases where it is easier to appor-
tion individual than party response
oIfy
~ Those who believe that by their ac-
ton they have definitely checked the
movement for direct popular primaries
are in my judgment, mistaken. In
its essence this is a movement to make
the government more democratic. more
responsive to the needs and wishes of
the people as a whole. With our politi-
cal machinery il is essential to have an
efficient party. but the machinery ought
TO be suited to democratic and not Oil
garchic customs and habits
The question whether in a self
governing republic we shall have self
governing parties is larger than the
particular bill. We hold that the right
Of popular self-g government is incom-
plete unless IT includes the right of
the voters not merely to choose be-
tween candidates when they have been
nominated, but also the right to deter
mine who these candidates shall be.
Under our system OF government.
therefore, the voters should be guar
snteed the right to determine within
the ranks Of their respective organ
izstions who the candidates Of the par
ties viii be. no less than the right to
choose between the candidates when
the candidates are presented to them.
To Lead, Not Drive
There is no desire to break down