The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-07
Roosevelt Declares Pri-
mary Bill Should Have
Been Passed.
ODIUM OF DEFEAT
is ON THE PARTY
In Signed Editorial, He Takes
Majority Party in Legislature
to Task for Refusing to Heed
Governors Recommends
tiors-Believes People
Should Choose Leaders.


New York. July s,-Ex- President
Roosevelt deals with Governor Hughes,
the New York Legislature and primary
reform in signed editorial article
in the current number of the Outlook.
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 positions, and ] think that this
has been markedly the case as regards
direct primary nonlina tions. 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 e.-
trerne advocates expect; while, am
we'll aware. as, of course, all thinking
men must be, that the worth of any
such measure in the last resort de-
pends upon the character OF the vot-
ers, and that no patent device Will
ever secure good. government unless
the people themselves devote sufficient
! euSI 7lillS obu
the device work. Finally, l freely
admit that here and there. where the
principle of direct nominations has been
applied, in too crude shape or wrong
headedly, it has. while abolishlng GER
tain evils, produced or accentuated
jothers-in certain cases, for instance,
putting premium upon 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 di-
rect primary nominations the Govern
or is right, and. in the second place,
| that. as the measure finally came up
for action in the state Legislature, II
was we'll nigh free from all objections
save those of the men who object to
lit that they are Fundamentally opposed
Ito any change wiiate,eec in the desire
Idirection.
"The Republican party was in the
majority In both houses OF the Legis-
lature. which refused to carry out the
Republican Governors recommends
\ tions, and although it was only a mi
nority OF the Republican members
which brought about this refusal. the
party cannot escape a measure OF re-
sponsibility for the failure.
"Those who believe that by thei:'
action they have definitely checked the
movement for direct popular primaries
| are, in my Judgment. mistaken. In its
| essence, this is a movement to make
| the government more democratic. more
| responsive to the needs and wishes
Of the peopel as a whole. With our
| political machinery 1T is essential to
| have an efficient party, but the ma
| chinery ought to be suited to Demo-
| cratic and not TO oligarchic customs
| and habits.
| Under our system OF party govern
/ ment the voters should be guaranteed
/ the right to determine within the rank
of their respective organizations who
the candidates of the parties will be
no less than the right to choose be-
tween the candidates when the candi-
4 dates are presented to them. There
/ is no desire to break down the respon-
sibility of party organization under
duly constituted party leadership. but
there Is desire to make this respon-
sibility real and to give the members
of the party the right to say whom they
desire to execute this leadership.
"In New York State no small part OF
the strength OF the movement has
come from the popular conviction that
| many of the men most prominent In
| party leadership tend at times TO for.
| get that in a democracy the function
of political leader must normally be
to lead. not to drive. We, the men
who compose the great bulk of the
community. wish to govern ourselves
| We welcome leadership, but we wish
our leaders to understand that they
derive their strength from us, and
that although we look to them 70,
guidance, we expect this guidance tc
be in accordance with our interests and
our ideals.
II believe that the people of New
York will in the end insist on taking
more direct part in the nomination
Of candidates, because believe tina,
they will grow more and more to in.
sist on just the kind of guidance anc
leadership that ] have mentoned.''
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