New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-09-15
CALL OF POLITICAL DUTY
Correspondent Emphasizes the Need OF
Direct Primary Enactment.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: Many conscientious citizens of TINS
influential state are puzzled regarding the'r
present political duty. If they have not,
through force of habit or Indifference be-
come the numbered ard tabled chattels Of
some party organzat ton. but instead folio"
their individual responsibility as sovereign
citizens, they may have some difficulty IN
discerning the path in which their real duty
lies. The writer Of this letter must confess
to having shared this perpleNty and to
having searched diligently in an earnest
endeavor to arrive AT satisfactory solu-
ton. and 1t occurs to him that the result
arrived at in his case might throw some
light upon the path for others
His conviction is that not since the days
of slavery has 50 serious an issue been pre-
scented to the people of this state or nation
as that which now confronts us. At no
time since the days of Lincoln have the
young men of America had so grand an
opportunity placed before them. 1t is
time which will bring new men and new
forces to the front
The importance of this issue becomes
clearer as the news of each battle fought
over the main principle involved reaches rs
by wire. The test of the direct primary in
New Hampshire. showing that three times
the number of voters who could formerly
be induced TO take part in selecting dele
gates under the old indirect system
thronged to take actiSe part in directly
nominating their own representa-
should thrill the New York State voter with
a new responsibility and ambition. The re-
Spouse of Wisconsin TO the foolish charge
that the direct system was there rnsatis-
factory thunders in the ears of the pre-
sumptuous machine men, and the speeches
of Roosevelt, so clearly defining the issue,
foreshadow the coming conflict here.
My conclusion is that we had better take
lesson from Lincoln's time and, avoiding
foolish compromises, align ourselves with
the progressive spirits who boldly demand
the abolition of the unrepresentative, boss
ridden delegate system and the adoption of
a simple, direct and really representative
nominating method in its place. We had
better recognize the truth. which becomes
palmer every day, that this is a fight for
the restoration of representative govern
ment, in place of a form of boss rule which
has become insufferabe, and that other
issues compared with ii are of minor i'm
portance. We had better realize that the
people are really powerless to effect any
other desired legislation. however impor-
tant Of which the interest serving bosses
may disapprove SO long as legislators
have to look to the bosses for denomination
instead OF to the majority of the party
voters.
Arrived at this point. we begin to see
things i'll their true proportions. Parties
and politicians are mere instruments for
carrying forward vital principles There
fore, If the Republican party at it's ap-
preaching state convention, and through its
party press, squarely and unequivocally
adopts this principle, l believe it to be the
duty of all prOgressives, whether Repub-
ICan. Democratic independent, TO unite
heartily in the support OF that party this
fall, cutting only such candidates as are
known to be hostile to tho principle and
who on that account I've their nomination
to the machine men.
Not only should the Saratoga platform
pledge the party to d genuine direct pri-
mary a complete substitute for the
present unrepresentative delegate and con-
ventOn system, but it should also declare
for the similar selection and election of
party committees, that the latter may
thereafter feel directly responsible to
the party voters as the regular party candi-
dates are expected to be. Then tho voters
nized party leaders will thereafter act as
honored and respectful servants of the
rarity, instead of as its dictatorial and ire
sponsiole masters. JAMES BARTLEY
Amsterdam, n. Y, Sept. 70. 1910.