The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1912-05-24
Do Not Like Dr.
rect Primary Law
Many Eastern Papers Predict Out
s. come of National Convention
at Chicago

at Chicago
Eastern newspaper opinions of the re-
suit of the Massachusetts, Presidential
primary varies according to the pro-
clivities of the individual newspaper
The Roosevelt papers hail the result as
a moral victory for the Colonel, the
Taft papers as a decisive victory for
the President, though discounted by
the muddle which gave Roosevelt the
eight delegates-at-large. There is
general agreement among all except
the extreme adherents of both can
didates in condemning the direct pri-
mary law which renders such mud
die possible. Several papers comment
on the fact that Taft felt it necessary
to lower the dignity of his Office by en-
gaging in duel of recrimination with
his predecessor.
The Springfield Republican says:
The republican party of this common
wealth has rejected Mr.. Roosevelt as
candidate for third term, under con-
ditohs which were not unfavorable to
his triumph, and the supreme signifi-
cence of the fact would be lost if it
were not pointed out also that his
nomination would almost surely place
Massachusetts next November in the
column of Democratic states.
1t says that. before the Illinois and
Pennsylvania primaries Taft could have
carried Massachusetts, by two to one,
but that those victories had demora-
lizing effect and added to Roosevelt's s
prestige as a winner. 1t attributes
Taft's victory to his slashing attack on
Roosevelt, and says it demonstrated
that ''the third-term candidacy would
be ruinous, to the Republican prospects
of victory" in November, adding:
There is an element in the Republi-
can opposition to Mr.. Roosevelt that
has become irreconcilable. 1t will now
fight his third term ambition to the
death.
1t pronounces the character,o of Roose-
velts's campaign such as to shatter his
party, compares his attacks on Taft to
Bryan's attacks on Cleveland in 1896,
and says they are sure to split his party.
1t attributes to him purpose to regain
power by uniting the radical wings of
the republican and democratic parties
under his leadership, but says there is
another great radical leader, Bryan,
who will never support Roosevelt.
A moral victory for Taft, but prac-
teal victory for Roosevelt is the
Boston transcripts summing up Of the
result. It attributes this divided out
come to the crudity of the primary law,
to confusion in many minds as to the
effect of preference vote, and to
Seiberlich's Quitting" in as a ninth
candidate for Taft delegate. It cites
figures from some towns to sustain the
opinion that but for the muddle caused
by Seiberlich Taft would have won the
eight delegates-at-large. It says that
the primary has had an exactly opposite
effect to that intended getting at the
will Of the people directly and that
Seiberlich may have unconsciously done
a-service in showing the weak points of
the law. 1t finds the operation of the
direct primary not broadly representa-
tive.
The New York Journal of Commerce
commends the purpose of the direct
primary, but condemns its effect as
bringing the representative principle to
confusion. The Journal says:
It is an attempt to apply the direct
vote Of the people in a way to divide
parties into hostile factions, and make
united action at the final election
difficult if not impossible. It is prac-
tical notification Of the representative
principle where it is most needed to
give harmony and strength to party Or
gshization and produce order in political
action.
A hope is expressed by the Lowell
Courier Citizen never again to see SO
little dignity manifested in . campaign
t{nching the presidency Of the United
States" It deplores the spectacle Of
the president and ex-president denoun-
cling one another in only thinly veiled
/ phrase as asserting what each knows
must be untrue 4
The Indianapolis News say the VIC
tory is plainly with the president, and
Y regrets that he did not begin his cam