The Washington herald., 1912-11-03

voluntary activities Of eitissas IN form
ing parties. assembling n conventions
and carrying ON political campaignss n
outside Of the sphere of:law that ls6is
Iauon 10 for the whole peoplA rscognis
Ing no sects, parts, or parties Accord
ingiy' It 10 improper for the Law 10 pre-
scribe the election ok delegates Or pro
vloe Tor instructing them or regulate tn
hosoihg OF conventions. But the Law
may altogether prohibit such activities
whether In or out OF conventions, 20 fal
es they impair the freedom Of any con
sututional agency Of the government.
Furthermore. Il u believed that no plar
OF eiecting delegates to party conven.
ences and certifying such preferences
ana lnstructing such delegates can be de-
vised which will not violate the neces.
sary rule Of simplicity and seriously I'm.
pair the political liberties Of the citizen
on inspection Of few proposed bills. one
!. astonished At the elaborate and oom.
piicated provisions and minute instruc-
lions and enormous expense found neces-
sary to make the system effective. The
enactment Of such q measure would
raise up class Of specialist lawyers and
professional politicians to operate It. and
the consequent reign Of confusion ID
frightful to contemplate.
Again. 1t 10 doubtful whether the peo-
PIE would remain satisfied with such q
system. They have recognised the abuses
OF huge conventions, which become more
giaring with each perpetration. The peo-
pie are turning to the primary election.
which they desire. As . substitute for.
not an agsravation Of. the nominat ting
convention. They wish to express their
preferences among Presidential candi-
dates. but they do not wish their express
sion to pass through the medium of party
conventions. Such q medium Ii highly
undesirable. and It IL emphRt Rtically urged
that 1t be not fixed by law upon our
electoral system
To complicate the preferential primary
with the national conventions would be
calamity Of the FIRST magnitude. Lit
tie less calamitous would be the elabor-
ate hierarchy Of State boards and ma
tional boards composed Of salaried MEM
oers appointed by the President. which
are the substitutes proposed for the GER
trying function of party conventions
The extent to which these bills propose
to regulate elections appears to infringe
upon the province Of the State Legisla-
the power to determine the manner Of
appointing the. electors All these dim
cuities are avoided by prohibiting any
form Of dictation either to the people as
or to their chosen elec-
tors. Let there be party organixa tons
TO proclaim and promote party principles.
but let there be no nominating Of cam
didates for President by caucuses. con-
or petitions In advance Of the
general election. Party activity may be
directed to the nomination OF candidates
Tor electors to be chosen under State
avs. Here party organisations may
have free scope to bring forward robust
partisans, who. IL chosen electors. will
light vigorously for party principles and
,arty men.
Electors should Meet.
The influence Of the people will be pro-
'oundly felt by the electors. They are
he responsible agents. elected and COM
nissioned by the people; they are them
'elves Of and from the people. among