The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-07-15
WHY NO PRIMARIES?

Preliminary plans were made day
OF so ago by some of erstwhile promi-
nent Republicans of Kansas for the
prosecution of the Roosevelt campaign
for a third presidential term. But q
NEST important matter was overlooked.
No move was made to provide for pri-
naries for the selection of Kansas dele
gates to the national convention of the
new Roosevelt party which is to be held
II. Chicago on August 5. Either this
was an oversight. which will be RENE
died later. or 1T means that the in
aIienable rights of the people in Kan
sas to rule in all matters political are
to be ignored.
An official call for the assembling of
this convention of the new party has
already been issued. It is signed for
Kansas by no less stickler for pri-
maries than Henry Allen, the Wichita
editor, and one of the silver-tongues
among the Rooseveltians. This certain
" means that the Kansans who are in
terested in the Roosevelt movement
propose to participate in this conven-
ton. To be sure, there is nothing IN
the call that defines the basis of repre-
sentation that each state will have in
tha convention Presumably this was
thought unnecessary. as the usual
representation in national conventions
has been acceptable for many years,
and it was probably considered that It
would be taken for granted that SIM
liar representation would be just about
right for the first convention of the new
party.
But how is this representation going
to be selected honestly in Kansas and
the other states, if not through pr1-
maries? Mr.. Allen is not the only
Roosevelt follower in Kansas who has
urged the righteousness of primaries
for the selection of delegates to nation
al conventions night and day since the
plan was originated. All of his confreres
in the Roosevelt third term movement
are Of the same mind in the premises
They are primary enthusiasts first, last
and all the time Their champion,
Colonel Roosevelt is of the same opin-
ion He even goes so far as to insist
that he was entitled to the nomination
which was given to Mr.. Taft because
he was the choice of the people for that
nomination inasmuch as he carried
two-thirds of the twelve states where
maries were held this spring. OF course.
there are forty-eight states in the
Union that participate in national
conventions, as we'll as some terrific
ries. But the colonel has said that his
urinary victories in eight states should
have been controlling factor in max
ing the nomination because they could
orlv be properly construed as express
ing the sentiments of the people of the
whole nation concerning the Republic
can presidential nomination.
And if primaries are the only proper
method for choosing delegates to ma
tionaI convention, on which Colonel
Roosevelt and all his followers are
agreed, it stands to reason that pri-
naries must be held for the selection
OF delegates to the convention OF the
new party that Mr.. Roosevelt has FORM
ed. Who will be the accredited dele
gates to this convention if they are not
chosen at primaries? How will they
he selected? Surely the Roosevelt boom
ers in each state will not attempt to
name them. That would SAVIOR too
much of ''bcss'' rule. And there are
no bosses in the Roosevelt party.
They're all leaders. Inasmuch as there
must be accredited delegates to the
new party's convention, or else it can
not be organized as a convention, they
must be selected. and primaries are
certainly the only avenue open for the
Roosevelt party at least, for choosing
rational delegates. Governor Stubs,
William Allen White, Henry Allen, |
Arthur Capper, and the other Roose-
Welt leaders in Kansas, seem to be
wasting valuable time in not making
the necessary plans for the holding Of
the primaries that are such an essential
part of the new Roosevelt political
propaganda.