The Washington herald., 1912-02-13
Republican and Democratic
Primaries Not Conducted
in Same Way.
UNFAIR TO oTHEDIsTRICT
National Committeeman Declares
Local Democrats viii Be Opposed
to Joint Primary Law.

l. STitlclSing senator Bristow Tor intro
ducing in Congress a bill regulating pri-
maries in the District without first con-
sulting the people of Washington, Ed
win A. Newman. Democratic national
committeeman for the District. yester-
Gay added his voice to the public indig-
nation following the farcical balIoting
IN the Republican primaries Of Saturday
last, and pointed out the differences in
the Republican and Democratic conduct
OF primaries
Senator Bristow. In his bill and in
published interviews in which he so dras-
tcally criticises our District primaries,
as at present held. has failed to make a
distinction between the method of hold
ing the Republican primaries of which we
have just had 50 striking an example
and the primaries which have heretofore
been held by the Democrats In the Dis
trict" said Mr.. Newman. THE differ
ence In the method Of procedure and the
manner in which they are conducted
are as tho difference between representa-
tive government and no government
at all"
Gives People a Chance.
Mr.. Newman said that he welcomed the
day when the people OF the District
could elect convention delegates. national
committeeman. and other representatives
by a direct primary law, but contended
that when this primary law is provided
for the people OF the District, the people
who are most interested should have
something 10 say as 10 its provisions and
regulations.
1T is hardly fair for the Senator from
Kansas to introduce a bill which he may
| think will give US a primary law with
out at least first consulting the people
who are 90 be goyernored by st." Mr..
Newman continued. Their wishes and
not the mere opinion Of the Senator
should prevail. II is, indeed. an open
question whether the District Democrats
would prefer a direct primary TO their
present convention system. The Senator
may speak by the card for the Repub-
licans. but he should surely at least
obtain the views and avail himself OF
such information as the District Demo
Gratis may be able TO give him before
presuming TO place upon the statute
books a law for their government"
Mr.. Newman said he is certain local
Democrats will be opposed to a joint
primary wherein each may elect their
own representative delegates. the voting
as is proposed by the bill being placed
under one end the same control The
slightest reflection" he said, will show
the folly of such a provision.
Residents of the District are a ma
iority OF them not voters at all. and
none Of them voters in the District" he
said. 1T will, therefore, be impossible
TO get a line on their previous party
affiliations. which. as is wen known, is
a prerequisite TO participation in any
primary.
Perfect and Fair.
THE rules and regulations laid down
by the Democratic National Committee,
primaries, are as perfect and fair as IL
is possible to have without a regular
registration system. which, of course is
very expensive. In our primary every
voter Is compelled to register his name
and residence before casting his vote,
which makes II impossible to repeat with
out detection. We have operated under
these rules since 1900. and there has been
no complaint from any one that have
heard Or Should there be any necessity
for a cnange In our system the Demo-
Gratis of the District are capable and
ready TO prescribe the necessary changes
without the assistance or interference Of
the Senator from Kansas. whom am
quite sure is not familiar with the Demo-
cratic rules for holding primaries.
THE Democrats saw the necessity for
some change years ago and provided a
good primary law to regulate their party
in the District; and I am not surprised
that the Republicans are just awakening
to the necessity for regulating theirs
also
Mr.. Newman declared that II the Re
publicans Of the District, who have no
organization, desire TO improve their sys-
TEN, II should be provided for and under
the control OF the Republican National
Committee. not under the supervision of
the District Commissioners.
Subject 10 Criticism.
THE proposed primary law is also
subject to this criticism-that It places
both primaries under the direct control
OF the District Commissioners" Mr.. New
man concluded. They as a rule are ap-
pointed from the party in power, and 1t
will be msnifestly unfair and unjust to
permit q Republican board to regulate
the Democratic primaries, or vice versa. |
There are other particulars wherein i
think the bill Is faulty and defective. |
but the provisions referred to are clearly |
such as should not be enacted into a
primary law"
Chaplin Brown, the weIl-known attor- |
ney, who was named Republican national |
committeeman by Aaron Bradshaw and |
w. Calvin Chase, following their victory |
In the contest for election as delegates /
to the Republican national convention, !
last night announced he would accept the |
position when IL Is FORMALLY Ouered Dy !
the delegates. He win succeed Sidney |
Bieber.
one feature Of the aftermath of satur- |
days balloting was witnessed yesterday |
morning in Police Court. when Eugene l
Martin was arraighed on a charge OF |
stealing a ballot box from Douglas Hall. !
Anscostia, and attempting to throw II in /
the river. At the request OF Assistant |
United States District Attorney Ralph |
Given. who desires more evidence, the /
case was postponed. Eugene Martin be-
ing given his liberty under so collateral
Martin says he wants TO stand trial be-
cause he didn't steal the ballot box.
'aThe judges wanted to count those
ballots In a dark closet he said, and /
I wasn't going to have anything like that
because I wanted to protect the peoples
rights
Employees I'm Politics.
4 Communication. addressed to Vice
President Sherman. In response to the
Bristow resolution. adopted by the SEN
lte last week. calling upon the District
Commissioners for information regarding
employees OF the District engaged In po-
itieal activities. was read in the Senate
In the letter the Commission
rs stated that only four efnployes Of fhe II