East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1911-10-11
PRIMARIES FOR
PRESIDENT URGED
SENATOR BOURNE MAKES
REQUEST OF REPUBLICANS
Believes II Right in Principle, Expcdi-
ent and Beneficial to Give Every
Voter n Chance TO Express Choice
for Candidate Nomination.


Washington, oct. 1.-THE follow
ing Is copy of a letter which Sena-
tor Jonathan Bourne, Jr,, president of
the National Progressive Republican
league today addressed to every mem
Der of the Republican National Com
mittee:
My dear Sir:-In the near future
the Republican National Committee
OF which you are a member, will meet
| to issue a call for the next Republican
National Convention at which candi-
dates for president and vice-president
will be nominated. In behalf of that
large majority of republicans who be-
lieye in direct primaries l earnestly
| request you to insist that when the
| call is issued, it shall contain a strong
/ recommendation that in all states
wherever practicable the state COM
mite call presidential primaries at
least thirty days prior to the Repub-
! lican National Convention, thus CIV
ing every member of the party an op>
portunity to express his preference
for party candidates for president and
vice-president.
This system of direct voae for cam
didates has already been established
in five states, having been first adopt
ed in Oregon in 1910, by the enact
ment of my presidential preference
bill. l enclose herewith a copy Of
the Oregon law which has been fol-
| lowed in substance in laws since en-
acted in Nebraska, North Dakota,
New Jersey and Wisconsin. Where
that law has not been enacted and
, where state laws do not prevent, a
popular vote can be had in primaries
Il state committees so direct, and
believe they will so order if requested
I by the National Committee.
I urge this action upon you because
believe it is right in principle, ex-
pedient as a party measure and ben
eficial to the industrial welfare OF
the nation. 1t is right in principle
= because the members of the party ar,
( entitled to an effective voice in the
J selection of candidates they are ex
" pected to support for election. 1t il
:, expedient as a party measure, for NJ
- party candidate could go before tn
= country with a stronger argumen
than that he had been selected by
direct vote of the members of hi
party and not by a convention domi
g mated by operators of a steam role
= 1t is wise to jeopardize the electio
on the assumption that the party el
! ectorate will subsequently support
) candidate nominated by steam role
J., methods?
= Popular selection of candidates fo
10 president and vice-presdent woul
"a mean a saving of hundreds of million
n of dollars now wasted through indus
n. trial inactivity due to the unsettlin
,g of conditions incident to every pres
e. Dental campaign. Under presider
n tial primaries the party electorate
would select for their nominees til
individuals possessing the confidenC
oe the greatest number and the gel
be eral electorate would elect the ma
er in whom they had the greatest col
Id fidence. Confidence in our govern
at ment is a prerequisite to full bus
en ness efficiency.
We Assuredly this plan of a natiol
wide presidential primary should r
of ceive the cordial Endorsement of eve
IS man who contemplates being ca
didate for the nomination. NO ma
could consider himself PRESIDENT
er, possibility if he questioned the abili
ul of the people to express an hone
H. and intelligent choice among M
es who. aspire to be the nations chi
ne public servant.
10 The power of popular selection
al candidates is of utmost importan
w to good government, for the ballot
q of little value to the voters If he mu
cast it for one of two candidates, bo
selected by federal office holders
professional politicians. Let US ma
IL, this in fact, as well as in name,
III truly representative government.
ne Yours very truly,
nc JONATHAN BOURNE, JR.,
n' President National Progressive r