The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-07-07
TEDDY IS OUT
IN AN EDITORIAL
Boosts Governor Hughes and
Urges Points for Direct
Primary Bill.
SOME CENSURE HANDED
NEW YORK REPUBLICANS
Admits Defeat of Plan, but In
sists That the Principle
Is Correct.

NEW YORK. July e.-Foruner Presi-
dent Roosevelt deals with Governor
Hughes: the New York Legislature, and
primary reform In signed editorial artl-
Gle In the current number OF the Outlook,
MIR. Roosevelt writes as follows:
believe that Governor Hughes has
been supported by the bulk of the wIscst
ana most disinterested people rs regards
l think that this has been markedly tho
case as regards primary nominations,
i know that many honest and sincere
Hughes on this point, and l know also
that the proposed reform will very pos
sibly accomplish less than its extreme
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 depends upon the char
acter OF the voters and that no patent
device Will ever secure good government
until the people themselves devote SUM-
Client energy. time and Judgment to make
the device work.
4 Admits the Defects.
Finally. l freely admit that here and
nations has been applied in too crude
shape. or wronghcadedly. II has, while
abolishlng certain evils. produced or ac-
ieentuated others, otners-in certain cases. for
lavish expenditure of money.
But while / freely, admit all this, [
nevertheless; feel in the first place that
mary nominations the governor is right.
and In the second place, that the
measure finally came up for action in
free from all objections save those OF
the men who object to it because they arc
Fundamentally opposed to any change
whatever in the desired direction.
''The bill provided only for direct popu-
lar action in the primaries i'm relatively
small geographical! and political communi-
ftlu
where there wns least liability 10 serious
objections and avoiding or defcrrinG tie
task OF dealing With those big ,communi-
ties where the difficulties and dangers to
be overcome would he greatest.
Censures His Party.
The Republican party was in the ma
jority in both houses OF the legislature
which refused 10 carry out the Republ-
can governors recommendations; and al
though IL was only q minority OF the
Republican members which brought about
this refusal. the party cannot escape
measure of responsibility for the failure:
clear majority OF the Republican mem
bers OF each house supported the bill.
whereas three-fourths or over OF the
Democrats opposed IL This Is one of the
cases where IL Is easier to Hpportion In
dividual than party responsibility.
''Those who believe that by their action
they have definitely checked the move
ment for direct popular primar ries arc.
in my Judgment. mistaken In It's es-
sence this is movement to make the
government more democratic, more re-
sponsive TO the, needs and wishes OF the
people a whole. with our political
II IS essential TO have an
efficient party. but the machinery ought
TO be suited TO democratic and not oigar~
chic customs and habits,
1.-The question whether in Il self-gov-
erping republic we shall have self-gov-
crning parties is larger than the partic-
ular bin, We hold that the right. OF
null Qo1r- nrr ie iyr6 ,r11p "a.
unless 1t includes the right OF the voters
not merely to choose between candidates
when they have been nominated. but also
the right to determine who these candi-
dates shall be. Under our system OF
party government, therefore, the voters
should be guaranteed the right to deter
nine within the ranks OF their respective
who the candidates OF the
parties will be. no less than the right 20
choose between the candidates when the
candidates are presented 10 them.
Position Of Leaders.
"There is no desire to break down the
responsibility OF party organization under
July constituted party leadership. hut
here Is a desire to make this RESPONSE
,ility real and 10 give the members OF
he party the right to say whom they
New York state no small part OF the
trength OF the movement has come from
he popular conviction that many OF tho
ncn most prominent in party leadership
end ar times 10 forget that in dcmoc-
acy the function OF political leader must
be TO lead. NOT 10 drive
I'VE. sthe men who compose the great
ulk of the community. wish TO govSrl
urselves. We welcome leadership, but
ge wish our leaders TO understand that
hey derive their strength from us and
hat although we look to them for guild
nee. we expect this guidance to be in
ccordance with our interests and our
Icals.
II believe that the people of New York
tate Will i'm the end insist on taking
more direct part In the nomination OF
andidates because / believe they will
row more and more TO insist on Just
ne kind OF guidance and leadership that
have mentioned"