The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-07-07
ROOSEVELT SEES
MONEY DANGER
N THE PRIMARY
In Signed Editorial He Dis
cusses the Defeated New
York Bill
SHOWS THAT DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS OPPOSED It
In Its Essence the Direct Nomlna.
tions Principle Is Designed to
Make the Government More Demo.
cratic-Partx Is Essention.

New York, July President Roose-
velt deals with Governor Hughes. the
New York Legislature and primary
reform in signed editorial article
in the current number of the Out
look. MIR. Roosevelt writes as fol-
lows:
Il believe that Governor Hughes
has been supported by the bulk of
the wisest and most disinterested
public opinion as regards most Of his
measures and position, and l think
that this has been markedly the case
as regards direct primary nomina-
tions. l know that many honest and
sincere men are on principle oppos-
ed to Governor Hughes on this point
and know also that the proposed re-
form will very possibly accomplish
less than it's extreme advocates ex-
pect; while I am we'll aware. as Of
course all thinking men must be, that
the worth Of any such measure in the
last resort depends upon the charac-
ter Of the voters, and that no patent
device will ever secure good govern
ment unless the people themselves
devote sufficient energy, time and
judgment to make the device work.
Finally, freely admit that. here and
there, where the principle Of direct
nominations has been applied in too
crude shape or ,wrong-headedy, It
has, while abolishing certain evils,
produced or accentuated others-in
certain cases, for instance, putting a
premium on the lavish expenditure Of
money.
But while I freely admit all this,
I nevertheless feel in the first place,
that on the fundamental issue of
direct primary nominations the gov
ernor is right, and in the second
place, that as the measure finally
came up for action in the state legis-
lature It was we'll nigh free from ALI
objections save those Of the men who
object to 1t because they are funda-
mentally opposed to any change what
ever in the desired direction. The
bill provided only for direct popular
action in the PRIMARIES in relatively
small geographical and political COM
munities, thereby making the expert
ment first where there was least liza
bility 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.
The Republican party was in the
majority in both houses of the legis-
lature which refused to carry out the
Republican governors recommenda-
tions; and although 1t was only
minority Of the Republican members
which brought about this refusal, the
party cannot escape q measure of re-
sponsibility for the failure; but it is
only Just to remember that a clear
majority Of the Republican members
Of each house supported the bill.
whereas three-fourth or over of the
Democrats opposed it. This is one Of
the cases where 1t is easier to ap-
portion individual than party respon-
sibility.
Those vino believe that by their
action they have definitely checked
the movement for direct popular
primaries, are. in my judgment. mis-
taken. In its essence, this is
movement to make the government
more democratic, more responsive to
the needs and wishes Of the people
as a whole. With our political ma
chinery. 1t Is essential to have an
efficient party but the machinery ought
to be suited to democratic and not
oligarchic customs and habits. The
question whether in self govern
ing republic. we shall have self gov
erning parties is larger than the par
ticular bill"