New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-07
THE DIRECT PRIMARY ABUSE

THE DIRECT PRIMARY ABUSE.
The process Of selecting delegates to
the Republican National Convention hav-
ing been completed, it is imperative to
say that as a means to that end the
system Of direct primaries, so far as II
has been applied this year. has proved
lamentably and even shamefully de-
merely negative. but glazing and ugly.
In its inception the direct primaries sys-
TEN was both meant and believed to
embody good purpose. The voters had
too little to say about the nomination
Of men for whom they were later to he
called on to vote and disinterested lead
ers Of public opinion commanded the
support of vast number Of patriotic
citizens in their efforts to bring about
a radical change. In many states such
the heart Of things, was effected, and
in some cases has probably produced
useful results. But in general, whether
because primary laws were inherently
bad by continuance or because political
adopts Of the less reputable order found
it easy to manipulate the new machin-
cry, the system has not thus far con-
Spicuously demonstrated its supposed
merits, even in its original field Of state
government. AS at present operative, 1t
IS, to say the least, still on trial If not
under increasing suspicion.
If that is the fact so far as its local
sphere Is concerned, as we confidently
believe it to be, the direct primary sys-
tenn, suddenly applied to the broad field
Of national politics, has lent itself with
the utmost facility, as il designed for
that express purpose, to the propagation
Of mOnstrous and humiliating abuses
First of all, instead of avaiIing to bring
out an unbought, Embossed expression
Of the deliberate will and judgment of
the people, 1t has been used to render
effectual noisy and bewldering appeal
to dangerous passions and most profit
gate expenditure Of money. BY these
methods the sensation loving public has
been attracted to circus and the hasty
Judgment Of a small minority proclaimed
to be the voice Of the people and ergo
the voice of God.
There are many things in doubt, but
one thing Is clear: This pernicious and
incoherent process Of primary elections
to determine how and by whom the
government of the United States Is TO
be administered for four years, if the
principle Is retained, must be radically
altered. 1t has doubled or trebled the
improper use OF money for political pur-
poses and greatly multiplied the oppor-
tunities for its use. 1t has been said
with undoubted force that at its best a
direct primary system tends to shift
further the responsibility for the mis-
conduct Of the voters themselves; that
If they would attend to their business
in the first place they would be able to
send suitable delegates TO the cOnven-
tons, according TO the theory Of repre-
sentative government, and so stand in
no need OF the circumlocution Of another
election, doubling the number Of calls
on the electorate. too often filling the
land with Improbable strife and mis-
chievously protesting the contest.
But if-disquieting as the acknowl-
edgment may be to patriotic men who
love their country and have a sense Of
public care-it Is necessary or wise to
make concessions TO humap weakness
and arrange the preliminary processes of
an electoral contest to further the con-
venience of those who thus far have
shown little desire TO have their partici-
patton In the first business Of citizen
facilitated the means devised for that
purpose must be freed from the present