The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-07-08

ever secure good government unless
the people themselves devote suffl-
cient energy, time and judgment to
make the device work. Finally, j
I freely admit that, here and there,
where the principle Of direct nomin-
ati MS has been applied in too crude
shape or wrong-headedly, it has, while
abolishing certain evils, produced or
accenuated others-inc ertain cases,
! for instance putting a premium upon
the lavish expenditure of money.
But while | freely admit all this,
! nevertheless, feel in the first place,
! that on the fundamental issue OF di-
rect primary nominations. the gov
ernor is right and in the second place
that as the measure finally came up
for action in the state legislature 1t
was well nigh free from all objections
save those OF the men who object to
il because they are fundamentally OPP
posed to any change whatever in the
desired direction. The bill provided
only for direct popular action in the
primaries in relatively small gee
graphical and political communities,
thereby making the experiment first
where there was least ability or ser
ious objection and avoiding or defer
ring the task Of dealing with those big
communities where the difficulties and
dangers to be overcome would be
lgreatest,
The republican party was in the
majority in both houses Ct the legis-
ature which refused to carry out the
republican governors recommends
tions, and although it was only a
minority of the republican members
(which brought about this refusal, the
party can not escape a measure of re-
sponsibility for the failure but it is
only just to remember that clear
majority of the republican members
of each house supported the bill,
whereas three-fourths or over of the
democrats opposed it, This is one of
the cases where it is easier to appor-
ton individual than party RESPONSE
bility.
Those who believe that by their
action they have definitely checked
the movement for direct popular pri-
maries are, in my Judgment, mistak-
en-. In its essence, this is move
ment to make the government more
democratic, more responsive to the
needs and wishes of the people as a
whole, Without political machinery
it is essential to have an efficient
party, but the machinery ought to be
suited to democratic and not oligar
thic customs and habits.
The question whether. in a self
governing republic, we shall have
self-goyerning parties, is larger than
the particular bill We hold that the
right of popular self-goyernment is in
complete unless it includes the right
OF the voters, not merely to choose
between candidates when they have
: been nominated but also the right to
determine who these candidates shall
be Under our system of party gov.
ernment, therefore, the voters sh -uld
be guaranteed the right TO determine
within the ranks of their respective
| organizations who the candidates OF
the parties will be, no less than the
right to choose between the candi-
dates when the candidates are pre-
senate to them There is no desire 10
break down the responsibility of par.
| ty organization under duly constitut-
ed party leadership. but there is a
desire to make this responsibility
real, and to give the members of the
party the right to say when they de.
sire to execute this leadership. In
New York state no small part of the
strength of the movement has come
from the popular conviction that
many of the men most prominent in
party leadership tend at times to for.
get that in a democracy the function
of a political leader must generally
be to lead, not to drive We. the men
who compose the great bulk of the
community. wish to govern ourselves.
We welcome leadership, but We wish
our leaders to understand that they
derive their strength from us. and
that although We look to them for
guidance, We expect this guidance 10
be in accordance with our interests
and our ideals.
Il believe that the people of New
York state will. in the end. insist on
taking a more direct part in the nom.
fFH Fts,v.