The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-07-02
IRRECONCILABhE@SY SYSTEM
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There fs,s 1f1 the specific sense of the word. no popular vote for presi- dent of the United States. The vot- CTS elect presidential electors, by states. Prior to 1924 the voters did not choose the electors. They were chosen by the legislatures. For a time this worked we'll enough, and the people were satisfied, until it be- gan I@ appear that .lthe legislatures xereEnbts keeping up with popular opini6n Then came change. through an amendment to the con stitution, by which the voters, by states chose the electors. and it shortly became understood that these electors should register the decree of the people. The electors ceased to choose& the president and vice pres ident@Ny their own wills. and be- came mere mechanisms for record ing the popular will.
 further change is now in being. Since 1924 nominations for president have been made in national conven- tions of the parties.
 The people have become dissatis- lied with this method, deeming the convehtions too greatly dominated by money, and this state of mind is expressed in the preferential presi- dentiai primary, which has been us- ed for the first time in the present year. ifs.,
 The effect of this method, partial iy applied, for only a portion of the states used it. has been the creation of hybrid conventions, in which at Chicago and Baltimore-the dele gates proceeded partly from the an cient boss and machine system, and partly from the direct ballot.
 The complete adoption of presiden tial preference primaries, to be con- ducted under Federal regulation, is near. C 1sUltimately theInen1ination of a candidate by direct party vote. with the overthrow of state lines. will be accomplished.
 The disturbance which has mark ed both national conventions is a wholesome disturbance.
 1t is precisely what might be ex- pected to happen whenever the op-' posing systems should meet face to face, equipped with nearly equal power.
 It is seen that the power that pro-
  ceeds directly from the people can, not meet in brotherly affection with the power that proceeds from com ventions and bosses. One system must, dominate the other.
 In such a-country. as this, to such a struggle tasa this there can be but one end.
 Behind the direct erection and the sovereign people. are arrayed the col leetivity that is MASTER.
 The people are master in fact as we'll as in theory. The barriers of privilege will be torn away
 Let us be grateful for the ballot. In an earlier day such a condition as existed at Chicago, and now ex- ists fin Baltimore, would have been solved by violence, and in bloodsheJ, by armed force.
 The ballot is weapon sufficient for the work of liberty remaining to be done. The worst that can happen will be new party alignments, and the best the capture of the Demo- cratic party by the progressives So completely that it can perform it's historic mission as the promoter of happiness and material and spiritual prosperity among the masses, accom- plishing 'the greatest good to the greatest number"
 It may be said that in both conven- credentials obtained directly from the people, and that some of them were allied with privilege.
 The point is not we'll taken. The tenn will not appear until candidates proceed entirely from the people As long as they must lean upon priviI- ege for promotion candidates will display the human weakness that consists in the pursuit of ambition by those means likely to gratify it.
 But when the people become the sole fountain of political honor, can didates will serve the new master more zealously than the worst of them have served the old.
 Men naturally desire to serve their fellow men. Necessity> it is that prompts men to serve privilege.
 RECTNINC TO SEE