Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-12-04
As to a Presidential Primary.

The following correspondence on
live political topic is here printed
for whatever public interest it may
possess:
KENEsAw, Nov. 20. isiL-vlctor Rose
water Esq. Member Republican National
Committee: My Dear sir-You are no
doubt aware that there is In contempla-
tion the offering Of a resolution az the
meeting OF the republican national com
mittee next month requesting states that
DO not have a presidential preference
law to provide through their state com
mittees for such a primary as a party
rule.
Representing a state that has provided
for such primary by law. and the
author OF the law being a republican, II
would seem 60 be fitting that you support
such resolution. AZ one OF your con-
sutuents I respectfully request you 20
do 80 l am, very truly yours.
| l. ID. EVANS.
OMAHA, Dec. 2, 1sil.-Hon !. ID. Evans,
| kenesaw, Neb. My Dear Sir beg 70
| acknowledge receipt Of and to thank you
! for, your letter with reference TO the
question OF presidential preference
primary, and enclose a copy OF a letter
which / wrote to Senator Bourne nearly
two months ago on the same subject
am also enclosing an article contributed
by mo TO the Review Of Reviews last
winter on the oregon primary law
perusal OF which may direct your at
tention 70 some OF the difficulties still In
the way of a nationwide primary on
the same plan.
BY my efforts In part, the call for the
republican convention issued four years
ago was 80 framed as TO recognize cleo
ton Of delegates by direct primary in
those states where the law 90 required.
The national committee. however, In
4 aiming the convention call Is limited TO
the authority conferred on II by the
national convention by which Il war
created. and the last national convention
unanimously adopted a report OF les com
mlttee on rules specifying the number Of
delegates to be apportioned TO each state,
territory and lnsular possession as well
as tho time and manner OF their appoint
ment. To what extent these rules are
directory, rather than mandatory, is for
the committee TO decide. While I take
II that the committee could not. for ex-
ample, change the apportionment. l be-
lievo the call should again recognize the
credentials Of delegates elected by d.
rect vote instead OF by state conventions
from states that have 30 iegislated on
the subject even though the rules re-
ferred to provide for convention-elected
delegates only.
To require direct primary election
everywhere. or instruction Of all delegates
by a presidential preference vote. would
necessitate uniformity, or at least no
discrimination but there Is no machinery
to conduct such a primary In most
southern, and many northern, states to
say nothing Of Alaska, the Philippines,
Hawaii and Porto Rico. My own per-
sonal opinion Is that all the committee
can properly do. or should do. Is 70 make
It pernissive for each state or territorial
organization to provide any fair method
Of choosing delegates that II may see fit.
and TO have their delegates instructed
by primary, or by convention. or be left
uninstructed. as the republicans OF the
respective states may desire. This opinion.
Of course. Is predioated upon the existing
lack OF preference vote primary iegisla-
ton in all but six states and the present
inability OF the committee to organize and
conduct a national primary election for
itself,
? Thanking you for your kindly interest,
and assuring you that / shall always be
glad 10 have your suggestions on any
matter I may haye to deal with in a
representative capacity. 1 have the honor
to be. very truly yours.
! .,. VICTOR RosEwATER.
OMAHA, oct. 49, loil-Hon. Jonathan
Bourne, Jr.. President National Progress
I've Republican. League, Washington.
d. C.?My Dear sIr-I beg to acknowledge
receipt of your letter under date OF oc-
tober II. addressed 10 me as member Of
the republican national committee. with
reference to the election OF delegates 70
the next national convention by direct
primary. Nebraska has, as you know,
law requiring the election OF delegates
In that manner, and do not conceive It
to bo the purpose or province OF the ma
tional committee TO ignore this law Very
truly yours. VICTOR ROsEWATER.
S-M