Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1910-07-07
ROOSEVELT FAVORS
PRIMARY Law
sunport Governor Hughes IN His Eff
fort to secure It's Enact
ment.

President Roosevelt deals win Gov
arnor Hughes. the New York legisla-
t,re and primary reform in a signed
editorial in the current number Of
The Outlook. Mr.. Roosevelt writes
as follows:
Il believe that Governor Hughes
has been supported by the bulk Of
the wisest and most disinterested
people as regards most OF his meas
ures and positions. and ] think that
this has been markedly the ease as
regards primary nominations.
Honest Opposition.
81 know that many honest and sim
cere men are on principle opposed to
Governor Hughes on this point, and
/ know also that the proposed re-
form will very possibly accomplish
less than its extreme advocates ex-
pect; while l am well aware as, OF
course, all thinking men must be,
that the worth of any such measure
in the last resort depends upon the
character of the voters and that no
patent device will ever secure good
government until the people them
selves devote sufficient energy. time
and judgment to make the device
work.
Finally, / freely admit that here
and there, where the principle Of di-
rect nominations has been applied in
too crude shape, or wrongheadedly, 1t
has, while abolishing certain evils
produced or accentuated others-in
pertain cases, for instance, putting al
premium upon the lavish expenditure
bf money.
Principle Right.
"But while | freely admit all this
nevertheless feel in the first place
hat on the fundamental issue OF di-
ect primary nominations the COVER
or is right, and in the second place
bat as the measure finally came up
pr action in the state legislature 1t
as well nigh free from all obpec-
pms save of men who object to it
ecause they are fundamentally OPP
bsed to any change whatever in the
psired direction.
THE bill provided only for direct
bpular action in the primaries in
Platively small geographical and
blitical communities, thereby making |
lie experiment first where there was
asst liability to serious objection and |
yoiding or deferring the task OF
Ealing with those big communities
here the difficulties and dangers to
overcome would be greatest.
The republican party was in the |
aiority in both houses of the legis-
ture which refused to carry out the
publican governors recommended
bns; and, although 1t was only a
nority of the republican members
hich brought about this refusal, the
rty can not escape measure of
Eponsibility for the failure; but 1t
only just to remember that clear
aiority of the republican members
each house supported the bill,
hereas three-fourths or over of the
mocrats opposed it. This is one OF
cases where 1t is easier to appor-
individual than party response
ity.
For Greater Democracy"
Those who believe that by their
ion they have definitely checked
movement for direct popular pri-
Iries are, in my judgment, mistak-
In its essence this Is a move
PIT to make the government more
hoeratic, more responsive to the
Ids and wishes Of the people as a
ole. With our political machinery
is essential TO have an efficient
rty but the machinery ought to be
Ted to democratic and not oligar-
customs and habits.
The question whether In a self
'erning republic we shall have
-goEerning parties Is larger than
particular bin. We hold that
right Of popular self-government
Incomplete unless 1t includes the
ut Of the voters not merely to
lose between candidates when they
re been nominated. but also the
ht to determine who these candi-
IS shall be, Under our system
party government, therefore. the
ers should be guaranteed the right
determine within the ranks OF
II respective organizations who
candidates Of the party viii be no
than the right TO choose be-
en- the candidates when the can /
ates are presented to them. Il
People and Leadership. L
There is no desire to break down :
responsibility OF party organiza- |