The Washington times., 1911-01-23


cCnvulsion."
The platform Of progressive thought,
as framed by Mr.. Roosevelt is:
Drastic laws TO prevent the corrupt
use of money in politics.
Election of United Senators by di-
rect vote.
Direct primaries for the nomination
of elective officials.
Direct election of delegates to national
conventions, the voter to express his
choice for President on the ballot for
delegate.
The introduction of the initiative, ref
erendum and recall.
Most Western Progressives and many
Eastern ProgressiYes Cncluding the
present writer), will assent to these five
propositions, at least In principle. l do
not suppose that there can be any dis
sent from the need of passing thorough
going acts to prevent corrupt practices
The movement for direct primaries is
spreading fast. Whether it shall apply
to all elective officials or to certain cat
egories of them is a matter which must
be decided by the actual experience of
each State when the working of the
scheme IS tested in practice.
There is constantly growing feeling
also in favor of the election of United
States Senators by direct popular vote.
On this point. as indeed on most of
these points. there is room for honest
divergence of opinion. but believe that
the weight of conviction IS on the side
of those who would elect the Senators
by popular vote, and that the general
feeling is inclining this way. The argu-
ments made against such method Of
election are practically the same as the
arguments originally made against the
election of President by popular vote;
and the Electoral College was designed
on precisely the same theory In accord
will !, rr-ht "a
Legislature rather than the people
should be trusted to choose the best
type of Senator. Such change in Sena-
torial elections, would no more alter the
fundamental principles of our Govern
ment then they were altered by the
change in Presidential elections. At
present, although the form of an Elec-
toral College is preserved, the vote for
President is really direct popular vote
and this absolute reversal in practice
of the theory of the Constitution as re-
CARDS the-choice of the most important
public officer in the land offers curious
commentary on the attitude of those
who disclaim against all change by
pra CtiCe in the construction of the let
ter of a written Constitution. Again,
and for the same reason, 1t seems to me
an admirable plan that there should he
direct election of delegates to ma
tionaL conventions. with opportunity for
the voter to express his choice for Presi-
dent and Vice President; although, of
course, such latitude of action must be
left to the delegate as to permit his
exercising his own Judgment If his first
or second choice proves impossible. This
is merely slightly to alter the present.
DAY practice when delegates are in
structed by State and district conven-
tions to vote for a given candidate.
"The proposition that will excite
most misgivinp and anita goniSm is
that relating to the initiative. refer
endum and recall. AS regards the re-
call, it is sometimes very useful, but
it contains undoubted possibilities of
mischief, and of course Ut is least nee
essary in the case of short-term cleo
tive officers. There is, however. un-
questionably a very real argument
ITO be made for it as regards officers
elected or appointed for life. In the
United States Government practically
the only body to whom this applies
is the Judiciary. and shall according