The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-07-06
PLANS CURE FOR
EXISTING EVILS
Congressman Norris Introduces
Measure to Reform Party
Conventions

Washington. july 5.-Proyiding FOR a
presidential primary which. under certain
conditions. would do away with national
conventions Tor nominating presidential
candidates. and which. ia his opinion. would
cure some OF the apparent evils OF existing
primary laws. consressman Norris to-day
introduced a measure shat would reduce
uioutei Jayne OF Delegates expenses. and
WOULD eliminate the dlspropo9t.onAte repre-
seniaiign ot sue south ia Republican con-
'fhe Effectiveness % the law would depend
npon the iaci that before - became
operative at least twenty states must lndi-
cate their Intention 70 pass laws suosteut-
ially ln line with the Norris bill. How
closely th- STATE laws approached the Nor
rla bin would be determined. under this
act. by the Secretary o. the Interior. an
appeal from hls decision TO lie 20 the SUI
The iraud a. Chicago. ine bowling mohs
az both Chicago and Baltimore. and tile
are convention aud primary election evils
thot arc apparent IA the opinion % Judge
Norris, and he believes his Dill would cure
I; is provided tina. each state shall have
one delegate ira tho national convention. to-
gether with aa many more as there arc con
sFesamsn from tnlt state anNattng with
the party holding The convention. THIS
would reduce conventions trom their present
i"' -oii't ti!-"s atH ~ oa=ln on
oi gao pres.t .ntlal yeas
Ine r-stf.ctlou oI l.I.-atlou 70 basis
%. tons.e aslYnai representation would wipe
oAt the i4r-e proportion % Southern i.e-
puDi!eah delegates wh!cA sntmuch!ue Ie-
l4Dl!cnns nat. periodically objected TO-
ne electors o. a state, under the Consti-
.s-oh may te CHOSEN IA = manner deter
si.lntl ~ the state. Congressman Norris
i4t taken advantage Q. this provision 10
-! the burden OF operation on the states
M SySse'.F5 % tAe Interior being given
80 ..sHt - determine whether the acts
psAsea y states 20 conform with the ma
''ya4. @ct really Go conform to It.
.ese Avs nluSt provide for both a FRS.
<Ha SECOND choice foE P.ssidenl In the
ssent that majority OF the delegates are
da;e, that candidate Is nominated witbon.
further forfnalty. The only busines, re-
mainins Tor a national convention 1. To
vie platform and name vice president.
Tho results OF primary elections ar %
p cfihHel 70 the Secretary o: the Interior
GO ~ ai'n 10 ihe nauonu! conventions
~, Won o. tAs Convention City IS left
no ihe national r0min!ttee.
really makes 10 difference ia whose
oan4s ne forin-. administration OF tho Jaw
@.'sion why tA- Secretary of th. Irterlor
"as given supervisory AUTHORITY
ne author o. irr BIN feels conads,. 80.
when twenty states hai adopted mea.ures
~, 9iin ins 20 tnls act prncticaNy ali other
r4.i"-Ns IN ne act to prevent States naming
aagils .oaiaion q Judge Horriss s' osin 4si
o. twenty states was obtaned
Mileage at the rate OF r.,.s - .,
qua per diem % g pe- day for no. ex-
ee-l"s 81 Gays is provided 10. In the
l"e1Ssse ~ be paid from the Fedora T-css
~. - more Than four paroles hold ma
,lo"ti conventions preference. shall he .,i,.,,
% those casting tne largest vote In ~"
Net.ouS presidential election.
4tcilr- expeditions were formed a. rhs--.-
a.- 5t-'li"ofe tnis year 20 tide over se's
sHtts VINO went broke because OF IN. nro
9-ses sessions and the high prices ,ysic,
! tfei. eoIninoa4ty suddenly attained iu -
IA ~ e..'on cites The payment OF mileage
ana expenses by the government ls i,.s-l
90 70 oevste repetition OF this are 80
per a.eFn Is kept low that the avarlc. -,
no prospective delegate would be sre,,S ~
4iisnas OF the Primary system ,S.rs 80
atHo'h'eq a. what they saw In both u. To-
convention cities this year. but mos, o. th@~,
oetese tnat only the method and NOT Inc
pr.nelple has neea injured. TIE Norris bifi
Is tHe hTst measure drafted so car 10 e.,
around some o. the Apparent evils
after iour OF i've days OF riot a, Rail-
..ote ne suggestion was made seriousiv
inat future rational conventions shonid l.
inca 70 acleSates aiternates and newsns
~ men the proiic 20 be segregated 4,
solne oiHer hall OF building sae-. -
4S.oin.hrHi men IN iAc convention could a.
os.ss iHen "!ihor, having the c!auo-o1s
convention. '7ss o. the
The presence % newspaper men .o,,, t..
.-..''eE 70 ne delegates would ASSURE -
.es.oNas of as much publicity as IA -.
s-,tH ronE eni!ons. where despite .he -
',.'ss'oH @, tHe public. much less ma, 49,
al 81 me Voters are ever able 10 sat5
eui".sslon' and where hardly 4 .en,S So
per cent Q. tho population o. 49, - o. !
yer enter. even II new cro,rS I'm I'm. y
each session. ''"o attends