Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-08

the convention. or any understanding to
that effect. This result can be best work
ed out by submitting the Issue to the
people through direct primaries and let
ting the names of each candidate appear
in every state upon primary ballots.
Everybody knows that under the con-
ventiOn system candidates who have the
disposition would have the opportunity
| the other hand it would be much more
difficult, If not impossible, to consum-
mate such a plan under presidential
preference primary. especially II the
active campaigns should be placed upon
the ballot in such primary.
I'm my opinion this would bring the
whole issue into public discussion Of the
nection with the nomination and would
minimize the anonymous and scurrilous
criticisms circulating through the mail and
in open letters signed by irresponsible
persons, who intend no good to the demo-
cratic party itself. OF course, 1t is we'll
known that Gov. Wilson advocates direct
primaries as a matter of principle. and he
assisted In securing the enactment Of
such a law in New Jersey. His friends
favor such primary and are now urging
its adoption in many states and before the
legislatures OF those states now in session.
His friends are encountering opposition
from unexpected quarters. Gov. Wilson
is willing to be tried in such a tribunal
doubt that he will be nominated under
the existing convention system, but the
primary plan would render this assurance
doubly sure. But whether Gov. Wilson
low the democrats of the country to name
their own leader and standard bearer in
the pending presidential contest. and he is
willing to abide the sovereign and au-
thenticated verdict of the organized de-
mocrary of this country as expressed by
individual democrats in primary cleo
tion.'
The Woodrow Wilson bureau sent out
the following last night: Despite denials
issued from Washington evidences are
plentiful that Gov. Woodrow Wilson is
being opposed for the democratic presi.
Dental nomination by an alliance of
Harmon, Underwood and Clark forces in
many sections of the country. The allies,
as the Wilson opposition is popularity
| termed, are openly at work in numerous
localities to prevent the election of dele
gates to the Baltimore convention pledged
| to the nomination Of the New Jersey ex-
ecutive. Indisputable evidence of the
accuracy of this assertion is afforded in
| newspaper publications from a number OF
states that have reached Washington.
| details of the fight being made against
| Gov. Wilson in that state. In which the
Harmon and Clark delegates are credited
| with being in agreement The story In
| question asserts tnaC the same Scneme Is
| reported in other states.
| 1.-The Wisconsin publication attracted
| much attention among the democratic
| senators and representatives, but no more
so than an editorial from the Commoner
| William J. Bryan's paper, which was
headed. Keeping Good Company The
Commoner editorial said, with Other
things:
/ The press reports may be doing
Speaker Clark an injustice, but il it Is
i ma n por a q
ance with the Harmon forces wherever
necessary to defeat the Wilson supporters
they should be reminded Of the risk they
run The line between the progressive
and the standpatter Is so clearly drawn
that real progressive does not appeal
to a standpatter. 1t always excites sus
picion, therefore. when standpatters be
gin to flock to one who is running as q
/ progressive. ,
The Roosevelt headquarters today mad.
public the following:
Alexander H. Revell, chairman Of the
| Illinois Roosevelt committee, in discuss
ing presidential primaries, had this to
| say:
1T is the officeholder against the peo
pie. The attitude OF the Taft managers
| shows that they regard their greatest in
herent strength as lying in the federal
| ofhceholders and not in the people. The
situation. therefore. which exists today
emphasizes more clearly the necessity fol
~ CSiOculldi primaries SUCH aS the p0OplS
are demanding. Of1ceholding power In
Washington and throughout the country
is now openly fighting the body of the
people for merely demanding the oppor-
tunity to express themselves at primaries
The talk of presidential primaries being
a soap-boX ballot is evidently q device
for Sinking contest. Regular election
ballot boxes would be used under the
direction Of the regular election officials
The present is a very important epoch
for in it the strength Of the people is
being pitted against the strength Of the
ofdceholders. II the people cannot have
the. opportunity they demand in this issue
the indication will be clear. that the
strength Of the of1ceholding class, with
its large financial backing, Is SO abso-
lutte that it can be used to suppress the
people. Does this not make pretty clea,
the attitude Of Col. Roosevelt that the
people do not rule today. and IL the
people succeed In coming out Of the
clouds that encompass them it must b<
by constant vigilance and warfare Il
overcome the powers which are endeav-
oring to suppress them. This is wha,
makes Col. Roosevelt the greatest ex
ponent OF human rights since the day.
OF Lincoln