The sun., 1910-05-09
Direct Nominations.

A. the close of "A debate which has
persisted for three wears the Legis.
laturs Of this State is about TO tax,
action upon the various direct nomina-
tons propositions which are before II
OF these propositions only two seem IA
us At this time 20 need the slighte-,
attention. These are tho Hinman.
Green bill, which Is IN reality Governor
HUGHEss bill, and tho Cobb bill. which
represents the concessions the Senate
opponents ~ the former hill are appar-
emily prepared 10 make 10 the demands
Of the Governor and his faction. There
remains always the third possibility
that Of a rejection by tho Legislature Of
all bills aiming at primary reform in
this State.
Tho position of TUF SUN in the matter
Of tho Hinman-Green bill has long ago
been made clclr. Nor is there any reason
30 disguise the fact that lHB Sun hon
estly and strongly opposes the whole
direct nominations agitation. With all
that the honest men who advocate this
reform seek to attain IL sympathizes
Even their faith in ia potency 20 remedy
existing OWLS in the body polite il holds
not without a measure Of praiseworthi-
ness. Nevertheless, 50 far a. THE Sun
b Concerned. Il does not believe the
possible benefit from the direct primary
oan in any degree compensate for the
evils that il recognizes have flowed from
Il in the States where Il has been actu-
ally adopted.
In tho present discussion of the
Hinman-Green BILL however. there IL
no reason OF relevance 20 any debate
over the direct nominations question.
For rthe Hinman-G Green bill II not direct
nominations plan nc all. IL il patiently
and unmistakably a collocatiOn Of indi-
vidual portions Of both the direct pri-
mary and the initiative and referendum
theories, and 80 far a. il has any dis
tinctive resemblance to either favOrs
the referendum.
The theory Of the direct primary is the
simplest in tho world II aims to per-
NIT the individual 70 select from the
party membership those candidates for
whom he desires 20 vote at a regular
election 70 an various ofi,es. In add
ton il aims TO give this individual marty
voter equal chance for his selection with
that of every other similar voter. II il
q deliberate and consistent attempt 70
eliminate all lartv machinery 50 far a.
nominating of Tarty candidates Il con-
cened. and its chief characteristic OBJ
viOlsly must be dirnCtness.
Now, there il absolutely nothing di-
rect about the Hinman-Green bills
method. On the contrary It carefully
srects a machinery ~ indirection. Il
provides a State committee, itself d.
rectly nominated, which shall select a
ticket for State elections. This ticket
thus selected becomes the tentative
party ticket, and the names oE the
NOMINEES thus chosen head the lists Of
candidates for each Office on the party
primary ballot. There remains 10 the
Individual party members The right to
unite In petition and place upon this
same ballot in secondary position rival
nominees.
The theory of the Hinman-Green bin
q that tho candidates thus nN.sed will
have equal chance Of selection at the
hands Of the party voter. The fact. Of
course, is plainly different. For the
State committee ia 20 be composed of
$50 members and to control the whole
party machinery. To tho support Of
their nominees they will be able 90 bring
the full weight Of all party patronage
Federal. national and local. Tho whole
army ot party workers and the whole re-
source N the party finances are their.
b be used IN AID II their own noIninees
Since employers and agents are esson-
tai, moreover, such uss II party funds
is not improper IN the ordinary sense.
A. opposed to this cohesive and con-
siderable ioFcs eXerted equally for all
members q the tentative party ticket
there Is permitted % the unorRanized
voters tho right 70 unite aud name by
petition. But 10 This effectively thare
ulust b. created out of nothing in a few
weeks a S,atewids organization, A SEQ
Ond and emergency state committee
While from private subscription must
como the considerable amount Of money
necessary o. secure for tho Oppoaition
and Independent ticket the advertising
end tho other advantagos naturally
possessed without personal difficulty bv
the nominees Of the State committee.
Hars lies tbs essential indiraotlon OF the
po-oallcd direct primary Of Governor
HCGHEs
But \ e contended by ths ohamplona
of tlis Hinman-Groen bul that by max
fnE the members Of the State COMMITTEES
elected directly a state COMMITTEES wiz
b obtained which viii always bs ~
Eponsive 10 public will. Il ID not nsose-
raFy % waste time discussing thia oon-
sunIion, Whichd0c5violence.to 90 GEpori-