The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1912-03-21
TAFT FOR PRIMARY
!, ON CONDITIONS
Declares for Preference Vote II
Properly Safeguarded.
FLING AT COURT CRITICS
President Attacks the Cry LET the
People Rule" Declaring II 10
Reflection on Own Gov
eminent.

Boston. March 19-President Taft
In speech before the legislature OF
massachusetts, here declared himself
In favor of preferential primaries un-
der certain conditions for the coming
campaign
Wherever full and fair notice OF the
election can be given, wherever ade-
Quate election safeguards can be
thrown around to protect preferen-
tial primary for the presidency, wher-
ever the constitution Of the state per-
mits 1t being made applicable to the
present election, favor 1t and vel
come It,"
Plain Words on LET the People Rule"
The president made pointed refer
once to the proposition, Let the peo-
pie rule" and had something to say
about the recall of the judiciary and
of judicial decisions.
irresponsible assaults upon either
IN Incorporate language or on base
less assumptions of corruption or bias,
or incompetency, made by those
whose statements have influence with
any part Of our people, are serious
menace to enduring government" said
the president He said:
You have recently passed what is
called presidential primary law for
the election of delegates to the nation
al conventions, upon which will fall
the duty of selecting the presidential
nominees of the respective parties. |
have not had opportunity critically to
examine the new law. but l am sure
It makes proper provision to meet the
obvious requirements. l am glad that
you have done this.
Reviews Method Of Selection.
"The question of how delegates are
to be selected to any political conven-
ton or how nominees are to be select
ed by party was originally a matter
of merely voluntary and party adjust
msnt, but so important to the public
at large did the character Of the can
didates to be selected by each party
become that the state has properly in
terfered so as to throw safeguards
around the exercise by all those who
belong to party Of their privilege to
have a voice in the choice of their
party candidates.
Il do not hesitate to say that, in
my judgment. voluntary primary out
side the law, known by its informal
character as a 'soapbox' primary, Is
worse than, none. for It gives full OPP
portunity to the ineligible electors Of
the other party to cast unfair votes
and, without the sanction and safe
guard of penal provisions in respect
TO casting and counting the ballots. Is
an open avenue for fraud and vio-
lence.
Reflection on the Government.
I'VE all concede that the operation
of elections and the operation of gov
eminent are not perfect and are some
times subject to corrupt influences
and control, and that 1t is the part OF
patriotism to remove. as far as posi-
BILE, the obstacles which prevent hon
est primaries. honest elections and
the honest administration of govern
iMSul III Tue lultTSSl vi the peOple,
but the continued iteration and reiter-
alton of the proposition, Let the peo-
pie rule if It has any significance at
all and is intended otherwise than to
datter the people. Is intended to be a
reflection on the government that We
have had down to the present time.
Now, In spite Of all the corruption,
In spite of all the machine politics, In
spite Of every defect in the operation
OF our government that can be point
ed out. do not hesitate to say that
the history of the last 1875 years shows
that the people have ruled. They may
have been defeated at times by cor
rupt and corrupting Influences con-
crosses and legislatures may have
been halted by subterranean methods
in Carrying out what the people de-
sire, but in the end. under our present
constitution and our present laws, we
have hat really popular govern
ment."