The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-10-06
WILSON, JERSEY, AND THE
PRIMARY.

The outcome of the New Jersey pri-
maries, the first held under the new
law, is discussed with good deal of
enthusiasm by opponents of progress
i've political programs. Indeed, the
ardor of the Wilsonians is only
exceeded by their ignorance of the real
significance of the result.
The progressive factions of both
parties were defeated in a considerable
majority of cases, and thereupon it is
heralded that the progressive move
ment has been smashed, and Wilson
repudiated. As matter of fact, the
regulars won in, most of the counties
because they had become progressive.
They had presented a class of men
whom New Jersey has seldom had OPP
portunity to consider its legislative
campaigns. The people were willing to
be regular if they could get the right
kind of officers through the regular
organizations.
The most curious allegation is that
the primary law has been proved fail
ure because it did not result in a
Democratic Endorsement of Wilson
This is based, of course, on the idea
that Wilson wanted primary, not for
the sake of the State, not for the sake
of making it possible for the PEOPLE
to nominate their candidates, but in
order to intrench himself in power.
That is just exactly what men like
Wilson do not want. The Jersey pri-
mary puts the power in the hands OF
the people, and the people will not be
bossed by anybody. La Toilette passed
Wisconsin's splendid primary law-and
by doing so gave the people an instru-
ment with which they have defeated
him almost every time he has tried to
dictate nominations to them. Cum
minis gave Iowa a similar law-and
then when he ran for Senator under it
the people defeated him and elected
Allison.
That is the sort of thing the primary
is constantly doing, There simply is
no boss under real primary, with the
people really doing business.
But, on the other hand, the people
are always more progressive than the
bosses, and the organizations have to
put forward candidates who appeal to
them, in order to win. That is just
what happened in Jersey. Far from
breaking down party organizations, the
primary strengthens them when they
deserve public support, and the Jersey
case is the complete proof on this
point.
Under a primary system, leaders like
Wilson, La Toilette, and Cummins can't
boss their States; yet the leadership
of these men is not repudiated. La
Toilette tried to dictate his successor
as governor, when he was sent to the
SeHdIc, anu ldlleu. SuIhIHlHS IIlcu W
do exactly the same, and failed. Yet
either La Toilette or Cummins, being
himself a candidate for reelection as
Senator, would sweep his State, and
each has done So, by huge majorities.
That is what will happen to Wilson
When he is a candidate, in his own
right, on his own record, before the
people of New Jersey, candidate for
reelection as governor, or for a Presi
Dental support, or for a seat in the
Senate to succeed either of the straw
men Jersey maintains there now, he
will carry everything before him.
Mark the prediction. 1t is based on
the repeated experience of leaders who
go to their people under primaries.
The people will not be bossed, even by
their trusted leaders. They are for
such men as Wilson, Cummins, La Fol-
lette, Bristow, Poindexter, when these
men are themselves candidates.; but
the people. will not be bossed. Governor
Wilson appears to have been defeated.
But when Wilson asks Jersey in
dorsement for himself, he will get it,
and the primary is the thing that as
sures it.