Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-04-09
no DODGE THE PRIMARY.

The efforts being made by 5ena-
tor Briggs and other Taft followers
to get control of the New Jersey del
egation to the Republican conven-
ton to Chicago in June is comment
ed upon as follows by the Newark
Evening News;
The New Jersey primary law
provides for q Presidential prefer
entail primary, but it does not pro-
vide that the delegates elected either
by district or at large, must neees-
sarily support the candidate receiv-
ing the most votes at the primary
election.
candidates for delegates may in
dictate their choice of Presidential
candidates on the primary ballots If
they see fit. but it is not obligatory
nor Is there anything except their
sense Of honor TO prevent them from
changing their minds, subsequent to
the primaries aud prior to the ma
tiOnal convention. Q
These facts, known to all who
have made themselves familiar with
the provisions Of the primary law,
have just been emphasized by cor
r]espondence between Borden d.
Whiting, n leader of the Roosevelt
supporters in this State, and United
States Senator Briggs, chairman Of
the Republican State committee.
MIR. Whiting wrote to Senator
Briggs, suggesting that Republican
delegates elected at the primaries be
pledged to support the candidate for
Preside nt receiving the highest pop
ular vote at the same primaries.
Senator Briggs rejected the sug-
g~estion and soiemnly rebuked Mr..
Whiting for making such an utterly
improper and tndefensible' propcsi-
ton. He declared that no self-re-
speeding delegate would for one mo-
ment consider ft and furthermore II
was unnecessary anyhow, because
the choice OF candidates is indi-
Gated on the ballots
"Tbereupon Mr.. whiting, with
less solemnity, some sarcasm and
considerable vigor proceeded to
convict Senator Briggs of either dis
righteousness or Ignorance of the
law by Sh9E4HE that delegates need
not indicate their choice of candi-
dates on the ballot unless they saw
fit, and suggesting hat there might
be good and sufficient reasons why
Taft delegates would refuse to do so.
lone OF these reasons he suggest
ed was that they might not want
their constituents to know the truth.
and another that they might want
to be in position to support a third
candidate. He further quotes Presi-
dent Taft's Boston speech as show
ing that he favors the plan suggest
ed Mr.. Whiting and pe%rtlnently or
impertinently inquiries. DO you diff
fer with your chief, or do you I'M
~derstand hat his remarks in Boston
were uttered only in q Plckwickian
lsense?'
ut is unlikely that Mr.. Writings
second letter Will change Senator
Briggs attitude, but 1t serves to
show that the TAFT managers do not
propose to take any chances Of los
ing delegates. It would be quite
possible for Roosevelt to secure a
large majority on the popular vote
and at the same time elect only a
minority of the delegates. The ma
jority might be secured in two or
three districts where the Roosevelt
sentiment is overwhelming, while
the remaining districts might elect
Taft delegates by small majorities.
This latter question comes down
to whether the vote of the State
should be treated as q whole, or
whether each district should stand
as a unit This may be open to ar
gument, but there should be no de-
ceit of the voters possible through
delegates not saying whom they
stood for and sticking by their
choice"