Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-07-08
COLONEL ROOSEVELT AND THE
PRIMARY SYSTEM.

IN his SlSuSu ditlNls uNolihh WIN
Governor Hughes. the New York leg
islature and primary reform, Colonel
Roosevelt directs attention to some
facts which, though often stated be
fore, cannot be repeated too frequent
w. Those Virginians who, realizing
the Unreasonable benefits OF the
primary and approaching the neces
sity for perfecting the system In Vir-
ginia, resent the attitude of the domi-
rating Democratic party leaders to-
ward this reform, should find the
cofonel's article particularly interest
ing.
The colonel earnestly defends the
policy OF direct popular primaries,
holding that they make the govern
ment more democratic, more re-
sponsiye to the needs and wishes of
the people as a whole. With our
political machinery" he says, sit is es-
sential to have an efficient party. but
the machinery ought to be suited to
democratic and not to oligarchic GUS
toms and habits He admits that the
sHorth of any measure in the last
resort must depend upon the charac
ter OF the voters: that no patent de
Wees can give the people good gov
ernment unless the people themselves
viii devote their time and energy
to making the device effective. Fur
thermcre, the colonel admits that
where the system OF di-tct nomina-
lions has been applied in too crude
shape. or "wrongheadedly. it has.
while aboiishing some evils, produced
or accentuated others. In certain
cases. he remarks. a premium has
been put upon the lavish expenditure
Of money.
Answering the charges or insinuat-
ions that the primary advocates de
sire 10 break down the responsibility
Of party organization. the colonel dc
clares that the advocates have no
such object in view. but that there is
a desire to make this responsibility
iea, and TO give the members of the
party the right to choose their lead
ers.
Speaking as one Of the rank sn6 file
Of New York voters, the colonel re-
fers TO the popular conviction that
many of the men most prominent in
party leadership tend at times to for
get thas in a democracy the function
Of g political leader normally must be
% lead. not to drive He SAYS. we
welcome leadership. but We wish our
soaders 20 understand that they de-
rive their strength from us. and that
although we look TO them for .guid-
sncs. we expec; this guidance to be in
accordance with our ideals In con
cius.on he declares that he believes
the people Of New York IN the enc
win insist upon taking q more direct
parf IN the nomination Of candidates.
becassc they will grow more and
more to insis; upoa the Kind u guild
ance and leadership mentioned.
IN Virginia the primary already IS
TIE accepted policy % the Democratic
larry and = izrEc mzjcritv u the vof-
efz We believe. wiz see to 4 that
here IL no return 10 the old couvcn-
tor and nass-rn citing plan. The
system has not worked smoothly and
fnrrc has becn dissastisfa-,ion. no:
sseausc It has been applied wrong
fer6 sdly.~ but because We Instituted
= in ~tco crude shave y vas neccs
ar 70 Apply fhr policy IN abe hrsi
psscs IN crude shape No:hing T. per
.ccf a. fh8 starr. and TIE irsncrs q
re system aop IN use expected hat
;-nrrovensats would be made - ex-