The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1910-07-09
DIRECT NOMINATION PLAN Is
FUNDAMENTALLY RIGHT,
HE SAYS.
BELIEVES N. Y. WILL INSIST ON IT
Admits There Is Danger When Law
10 Crudciy Applied.-coionel Gen.
orally Backs Up Hughes In
Editorial Article.

the new 4OTk legislature ana primary
reform in a signed editorial article in
the current number of the Outlook.
| Mr.. Roosevelt writes as follows:
Il believe that Governor Hughes has
been supported by the bulk of wisest
and most disinterested public opinion
as regards most Of his measures and
positions, and l think that this has
been markedly the case as regards
direct primary nominations. I know
that many honest and sincere men are
on principle opposed to Governor
Hughes on this point and know also
that the proposed reform will very
possibly accomplish less than its ex-
well aware. as of course, all thinking
men must be. that the worth of any
such measure in the last resort de-
ponds upon the character of the voters,
and that no patent device will ever
secure good government unless the
people themselves devote sufficient
energy, time and judgment to make
the device work. Finally, l freely adj
NIT that here and there where the
principle of direct nominations has
been applied in too crude shape or
wrong-headedly 1t has, while abolish
ing certain evils, produced or accentu-
ated others-in certain cases, for in
stances, putting a premium upon the
lavish expenditure Of money.
But while l freely admit all this,
I nevertheless feel, In the first place,
that on the fundamental issue of di-
rect party nominations the governor
is right and in the second place, that
as the measure finally came up for
action in the state legislature it was
we'll nigh free from all objections save
those of the men who object to it be-
cause they are fundamentally opposed
to any change whatever in the desired
direction. The bill provided only for
direct popular action in the primaries
in relatively small geographical and
political communities, thereby making
the experiment first where there was
least liability to serious objection and
avoiding or deferring the task of deal
ing 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 leg4s-
lature which refused to carry out the
Republican governors recommends
tons; and although it was only
minority of the Republican members
which brought about this refusal, the
party cannot escape a measure of re-
sponsibility for the failure; but it is
only just to remember that a clenr
majority Of the Republican members
of each house supported the bill where
as three-fourths or over Of the Dem
ocrats opposed it. This is one of the
cases where it is easier to apportion
individual than party responsibility.
"Those who believe that by their
action they have definitely checked the
movement for direct popular prima-
ries are, in my judgment, mistaken.
In its essence, this is a movement to
make the government more demo-
cratic, more responsive to the needs
and wishes of the people as a whole.
With our political machinery. it is
essential to have an efficient party,
OuC IAAc AidCAlAcIy Ou6uL W Ue SUITED
to democratic and not oligarchic GUS
toms and habits. The question wheth-
er In seif-governing republic we
shall have self-governing parties is
larger than the particular bill.
"There is no desire to break down
the responsibility of party organiza-
ton under duly constituted party lead
ership, but there is desire to make
this responsibility real and to give
the members Of the party the right to
say whom they desire to execute this
leadership.
II believe that the people of New
York state will, in the end, insist on
taking more direct part in the NOM
ination of candidates, because I be-
heve they will grow more and more
to insist on just the kind of guidance
and leadership that have mentioned"