The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-07-06
REFORM OF PRIMARIES.

Representative Paul Rowland of
Ohio is anxious TO reform the primary
elections. We have had the primary
law but few months in this country,
so far as the Presidency is concerned; :;
and yet ii appears that it is in need
| Ct reformation before it has served
even one turn. It must be admitted
however, that Mr.. Rowland is quite
correct in this matter The -Presidcn
tlal primary needs to be reformed
poses to make a radical change in the
whole matter, and take the primary
out OF the jurisdiction of the States
altogether, so far as 1T relates 10 the
Presidential primaries. This is logical,
but whether it would work anv better
in practice than the form that we have
had. is still matter Of doubt.
Mr.. Howland IS bill creates a National
board Of five members to have gen
eral charge of all primaries of all par
ties. throughout the country so far
as Federal elections are concerned IT
establishes In each State board of
three members to have charge of State
primaries. The names Of candidates
for President must be printed on. the
primary tickets, and the voters are to
vote directly for the candidate Of their
cholce for President. The Cougres-
sional district is made an election unit,
and the candidate of each party carry
ing it is given the right TO name the
delegates and the Presidential electors.
The bill provides also for party Ma.
tional conventions. to be composed of
four delegates and four alternates from
each State. these 10 be named by the
candidate carrying the State The
party organization takes charge of the
convention thus constituted, the effort
being 10 bring matters more in accord
with the popular choice than In the
past.
But Mr.. Rowland s bill is inconsist-
cnt in undertaking TO manage, from
Il National standpoint, the State pri-
maries, other than those for the Presi-
dency and for members of Congress:
will necessarily have to be eliminated.
In direct opposition to this plan for
recognizing parties in the primaries,
Mr.. Linton Satterthwalte, in letter
to the Springfield {Mass.) Republican,
objects strongly to the recognition of
parties in the primaries He holds that
the fundamental principle involved in
all primary legislation necessarily is.
and ought TO be, individual choice,
without any party restrictions what
ever. and without any obligations of
party ties Mr.. Sattcrthwaite is con-
sistent in this, because il is abundantlv
evident from the primary elections of
the past few months that the tendency
of the primaries is absolutely TO de-
stroy parties and party action. Under
Mr.. Satterthwaite S idea the primaries
whether STATE or National, (for his idea
the legislation would simply deal with
! the primary elections and have moth
ing to do with parties or conventions.
! After the primary election, the results
would he tabulated in each state. and
50 far as the State officers were con.
eerned, the primaries would determine
tho choice of the voters or candidates,
SO far as the National officials are
concerned, these could also be tabu-
lated, and determined in each State, so
far as Representatives. in Congress are
| concerned. and also so far AS the L. S.
Senators are concerned, under the pro
posed system Of electing Senators BY
popular vote. For all these purposes
the state would be the unit in itself:
but for the purpose of determining the
choice OF the primaries for Presidential
candidates, il would be necessary to
have Congressional legislation 10 de.
termine how the vote Of each State on
candidates for President and. Vice.
President should be returned to some
general authority. and there tabulated
and the choice of the voters ascertained
That would he clear-cut, straiphtfor.
ward proposition. eliminating all con
ventlons. and making the nominations
direct by the people. But here would
come in again probably the same old