The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-04-05
Five Weeks Work

Theodore Roosevelt has been in the
presidential contest just five weeks.
What has been the result OF that brief
light for the cause or popular self
government and rule or the majority !?
The response by the American people
TO the citizen who trusts them has
been OF great and will be OF increas-
ingly greater significance. But: Tor
the moment, We adopt Mr. Roosevelt's
theorem thar what happens 10 one
man or another is unimportaHt IN
comparison with what happens 10 the
cause or restoration OF real repre-
sentative government.
What, then, have been the results
OF the five weeks old campaign. car
ried on in the face OF INSCRIPTIONS
utilization and misrepresentation
without precedent in American politi-
cal history?
In Massachusetts there had been
no lawful means for the expression
of the voters preference for their
presidential candidates. In the face
OF the tremendous pressure exerted
upon the legislature by the Murray
Crane machine, aided by the effort Sc
cretly applied from Washington, &c
block the demand for an honest Pri-
mary, the likelihood of the passage or
any new law seemed very slight But
scarcely a fortnight was required TO
rouse the one force 10 which the COM
bined powers OF privilege, patronage
and political machinery succumb--en-
frightened public opinion--and Massa-
chusetts has an honest presidential
preference primary law.
Illinois was in a worse case than
Massachusetts. There was a cheat
ing sham of a preferential primary
law, which had been especially doc
tered by that eminent patriot, Joe
Cannon, and supporters OF Taft 10
prevent action by "fitful impulse or
the majority" An extra session or
the legislature was forced by aroused
public opinion. To make the pro.
posed new fair primary law effective
this year, ii had TO be passed within
five days. The dilatory tactics OF the
Taft-Lorimer-McKin Cannon ma
chine babe fair TO prevent any action.
Then came Chicago's remarkable
welcome OF Mr.. Roosevelt. The leg
islature took warning, and within three
days the fair and honest primary Dill
had become the law. And, outside
the corrupt districts controlled by Mr.,
Taft's good friends-Cannon, Mckin'
ley and the indicated seantor or the
bathroom and the beef trust-the I'LL
nois returns will be a respectable ex-
preston OF the will OF the people or
Illinois
Since the days of the elder German,
Quay's Democratic twin as master
gangster, Maryland had submitted
meekly to the dictation OF nominees
by packed conventions. But the news
comes that In the final hours OF the
session of the legislature last Satur-
day night, a law providing for a free
and fair preferential primary, which
had been bitterly antagonized by the
supporters OF Mr. Taft, was passed.
II provides that the vote on the
presidential nomination shall be
taken by counties and a state con-
vention shall elect the national dele
gates. The voters, however. cast
their ballot for the candidate OF their
choice or for an uninstructed delega-
ton from Maryland TO the national
convention. State delegates from each
county are bound by the primary pref
erence.
The gain in Michigan was less COM
plete. But gain Is marked there
none the less by every believer in
more direct control by the people.
The intrigues OF the Taft supporters,
led BY that renegade from progressiv'
| ism, Senator Townsend. already re-
pudfated in his own election district
succeeded in preventing the popular
primary law, which they could not de
feat from being applicable to the
choice OF delegates this year. but
the law stands for the future.
In Ohio, too. there is gain. For
the progressive principle OF the pref
erential primary is officially recog
nized and, as far as II goes, the law
/ is good, aside from the fact that the
initiative and referendum have beer
approved in President Tafts own