Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-03-19

Boston, March 1S.-'Wherever full
and fair notice of the election can be
given, wherever adequate election safe
guards can be thrown around to pro-
tect a preferential primary for the
presidency, wherever the constitution
of the state permits its being made ap-
plicaible to the present election, favor
it and welcome it"
This was the presidents statement
today before the general court of
Massac husetts. 1t was his first per-
sonal reply to the challenge to pref
erential primaries issued some time
ago by Senator Dixon, Theodore Roose-
velt's manager
President Taft did not refer to the
challenge, however.
irresponsible Assaults.
The president made a rather point
ed reference to the proposition, "let
the people rule" and had something
to say about the recall OF the judi
ciary and the recall Of judicial de-
cisions.
irresponsible assaults upon either
in Incorporate language or on base
less assumptions of corruption or bias
or incompetency, made by those whose
statements have infueNce with any
part of our people. are a serious men
ace to enduring government" said the
president r.-
Massachusetts Primary Law.
You have recently passed" said he,
what is called a presidential primary
law for the election Of delegates to
the national conventions upon which
will fall the duty Of selecting the
presidential nominees of the respec-
H.,
tunHy critically to examine the new
law, but / am sure it makes proper
provision to meet the obvious re-
quirements, am glad that you have
done this. The question of how dele
gates are to be selected to any politi-
cal convention, or how nominees are
to be selected by a party, was origin
ally a matter Of merely voluntary and
party adjustment, but 80 important to
the public at large did the character
Of the candidates to be selected by
each party become that the state has
properly interfered so as to throw
safeguards around the exercise by all
those who belong to a party Of their
privilege to have voice in the choice
Of their party candidates.
Should Be Ssfeguarded.
81 am not now going to stop and
discuss in detail the question Of d.
rect primary elections, their uses and
abuses. I think every enc will ad-
nit, however, in order that they may
accomplish the good they are intend
ed to accomplish they should be safe
guarded by effective provision as to
the party eligibility of voters who par
ticipate in them, and by penal provi-
sions securing conformity to rules Of
such eligibility and She honest casting
and counting Of the ballot.
Opposed to "Soap Box" primaries.
Il do not hesitate to say that in my
Judgment a voluntary primary out
side the law known by its informal
character as a :soap-box' primary, is
worse than none. for it gives full op-
portunity to the ineligible electors of
the other party to cast unfair votes
and without the sanction and, safe
guard as penal provisions in respect to
casting and counting the ballots is an
open avenue for fraud and violence.
TT is eminently appropriate that in
every election and in the discussion
of all issues that affect the republic
we should discuss and hear much of
the popular will and of the right of
the people. This is government bas-
GU OIl pOpuldL COilJLOl.
Elections Not Perfect.
We all concede that the opera
ton Of elections are not perfect, and
are sometimes subject to corrupt in
fuences and control, and that it is
the part Of patriots to remove, as far
as possible, the obstacles which pre-
vent honest primaries, honest cleo
tions and the honest administration
of the government in the interest OF
the people, but the continued itera-
ton and Teiteration of the PROPOSE
ton, Let the people rule if it has
any significance at ALL and is intend
ed otherwise than to fiatter the peo-
pie, is intended to be a reflection on
the government that we have had
down to the present time.
Says People Have Ruled.
Now, in spite of all the corruption
in spite Of all the machine politics
in spite Of every defect in the opera
ton Of our government that can BE-
pointed out. / do not hesitate to say
that the history Of the last 1876 years
shows that the people have ruled
They may have been defeated for the
time by corrupt and corrupting influ-
ences congress and legislatures
may have been halted by subterranean
methods in carrying out what the peo-
pie desire, but in the end. under oul
present constitution and our present
laws We have had really popular
government.
Attacks on Structure OF Government
Not Justified.
Il cont mean to say that we can
not make 1t better. I don't mean Il
say that we NAV not rarnnvn snrnf