New-York tribune., 1910-08-18
THE RESTIT IN CALIFORNIA.

The sweeping victory in the California
primary elections of the Progressive Re-
publican candidates will have more than
q local effect. 1t will be rightly con-
strued as Il sign Of the times and an
evidence of the desire of Republican
voters all over the country TO become a
larger factor in party affairs. The prl-
mary gives them their opportunity, and
the eagerness with which they are ready
to avail themselves of it is shown by the
enormous Republican registration in
California, which was more than 100000
greater than the vote cast two years
ago for the Republican national ticket
The winning candidates have been
popularity classified as insurgents as
well us Progressives. But they are not
insurgents in the sense in which that
term is understood in Iowa, Kansas and
Wisconsin. California is a strongly pro-
tectionist state and has no complaint
Whatsoever against the Payne tariff law.
II does not sympathize with the attitude
OF Senators Cummins. Dolliver and
briStoW. who voted against the Payne
act and now try to make personal capi-
tai by criticising President Taft for sign
Ing it. although the tariff programme
which they put forward differs Ill no eS-
sentialS from that advocated by the
President and approved by great ma
jority of the Republican voters. Can
nonism' was also not the absorbing
issue in California which it has been in
tie Mississippi and Missouri Valley
states. One California Representative,
Mr. Hayes. acted with the insurgents IN
the House and voted to amend the rules
and limit the excessive powers OF the
Sneaker. The others stood with the
regular organization. But no fight was
made against Mr.. Hayes for renomina-
ton. and only two of the seven regulars
were opposed by Progressive candidates.
in those two districts the sitting mem
bers seem TO have lost their seats
On the whole. however. national issues
yielded to state issues, the aim of the
PrGgressiveS being to liberalize party
government and put control Of the party
into new hands. In California, as else
where. the dissatisfaction existing in
the Republican ranks is due much less
10 what the party has done or failed to
do than TO feeling that the voters have
not had an adequate chance to make
themselves felt in party management.
The middiemen in politics have enjoyed
too much power and have antagoniZed
the rank and file by opposing Il fairer
distribution Of authority and RESPONSE
l,iIitv. The Progressive movement in
most states is at bottom m agitation for
more democratic methods and d larger
measure Of popular rule.
II is one great advantage OF the pIf
mary system that its decisions are not
cDen 10 question. 4 convention often
rcnresents Il minority Of the voters and
often makes nominations against its
own Judgment. There is no way of
demonstrating after it adjourns that It's
action WAS really the action Of Il major
ity Of the party. But the primary re-
solves all doubts and leaves no ground
for disputinr its verdict II is more im-
lersoral and consequently gives less eli
enlargement 20 the spirit Of factional
ism: for no faction can complain that il
did not have a fair and equal chance.
Party harmony iS more likely to follow
a count of the ballots in 81 primary than
To flew from the operations of middle
men I'm - convention Had Kansas.
Iowa Nebraska and California cl1ng To
the convention system. The factions here
would probably have found some way
IA continue their warfare until the polls
closed. Now, they must submit TO the