The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1912-07-04
A Convention Lesson.

A lOnNenIlOn LESSON.
Before another presidential year
rolls around we hope that every state
will have adopted a law making it
compulsory tnat delegates to national
conventions be elected at primaries
The Republican convention recently
held at Chica should bring about
such a result
We are not complaining about the
methods used at that convention.
They were the same that have been
used at all conventions both Demo
cratic and Republican for many years.
1t was simply case Of the people who
had control Of the party machinery
using 1t for the benefit Of their candi.
date, without regard to fairness and
justice. There has only been one
principle ever consistently followed at
Conventions and that was the prin.
ciple Of might. Right, fairness
and justice we're very good If they
agreed with might, but If not they
were Of Slight importance. Men, who
are absolutely fair in every other walk
Of life, will use methods in politics for
which there is no justification except
that they have the power to do them
Delegates who were selected under
the old plan by committees, mass con-
vention or delegate convention, were
the cause Of all the fighting at the
Chicago convention. The seats Of
delegates selected by such means were
the ones that were contested here 1t
was that the steam roller" methods
we're brought into play. No one has
ever heard of bolt where the dele
gaees have been elected by primaries.
Where primaries are in force there can
be no question Of the right of dele
gate to seat. The people have
spoken and trickery and contention
can not arise. 1t is then simply case
OF the majority who exercise their
right Of franchise making the selec.
tioq.
While the primary plan is more ex-
pensive in the first instance than the
old plan it is much more satisfactory
and places the power Of selection Of
candidates where it should be, in the
hands of the people.
We do not believe in two or three !
men getting together and by political
manipulation saying who shall be the
delegates from county, district or
state. Let all Of the members of a
party have the privilege Of registering
their preference. Then there can be
no controversy or disagreement as to
who is entitled to the delegates or the
candidate who is entitled TO the votes.
We have never heard of rump con-
ventions, party splits, new parties,
charges Of crookedness, thieyery and
robbery, where there we're legally con-
Quoted primaries. Further where
primaries are held the people have
an opportunity TO rule and If they
neglect their opportunity they have
no one TO blame but themselves. To
do away with the dissension and dis
satisfaction and chance for unfair and
crooked methods which are often
practiced under the old plan, makes
the cost of the primary well worth
while.
Every year the people are becoming
more and more interested In who shall
govern them; more and more inter-
ested in the men and principles in
volved in political controversies more
confident that they are competent to
select their offices more certain that
they are competent to govern them
selves and more insistent on the prlvi-
lege TO do SO.
II the primary plan had been In force
In all OF the states this year, there
would have been no steam roller at
the Chicago convention; there could
have been no claim that the will oi
the people had been thwarted. II
would have been case Of the defeated
candidate having no ground on which
to complain, If he believed in th'
people ruling.
We believe in the people ruling ant
believe that the only true way o
securing an expression of the wish o
the people is by primary.