The citizen., 1913-12-05
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

President Wilson appeared before the
Joint session OF the two houses of Con-
gresS and delivered his annual message
which appears in full on page two.
The following are some OF the press
comments on the message by the leading
journals OF the country
The Presidents suggestion regarding
the selection of candidates tor the Presi
dency is a natural amplification of the di-
rect primary system, and is in harmony
with the political spirit of the times. Yet
1t involves so large change that we fear
there is little chance of the realization of
his hope that it can be handled promptly
and without serious controversy OF any
kind" 1t would relieve our politics from
the scandals that have attached to several
national conventions.-Ph Philadelphia Rec
ord.
President Wilson's message to Com
greSs read IN person, will not set the
world ahre. Like all of his public docu-
ments, it is general in character and lacks
detail in its suggestions. Doubtless this
is because, when it comes time for taking
up the important measures of the future,
the President will have his own bills or
bills drawn in committee to his order.
Thus it is with the tariff, and thus it has
been with the currency and banking bill.
Philadelphia Inquirer.
1t contains little information about the
state of the Union" which is the consti-
tutional excuse Mr.. Wilson offered for its
deliverance. and not Of the recommenda-
tionS made for the country's welfare
~ 10 b,rh
the urgency of the moment or the pledg-
es of the administration gave the country
right TO expect the President would
address himself on this occasion. -Bos-
ton Transcript.
The state of the Union will not long re-
main what it is or what it has been from
the beginning if the most important and
far-reaChing recommendation of the Pres
dents address is adopted by Congress
and the country. We mean his urging
the prompt enactment of legislation for
primary elections throughout the country
in which the voters of the several parties
may choose the nominees for the Presi-
dency without the intervention of nomi-
mating conventions. New York Times.
Upon the subject of national law dong
away with party conventions and provid-
ing for the direct nomination OF candi-
dates for the Presidency, we do not think
that the country will be with Mr. Wilson.
Many states are not yet prepared for di-
rect primaries. 1t would be a radical ex-
pertinent TO go at once to the nomination
OF national candidates without the aid OF
national conventions. The tendency is
no doubt stron. toward primaries in
which vote is taken upon candidates
for Presidential nominations and dele
gates are bound by the preference ex-
pressed by the voters. But this is far
short OF what Mr.. Wilson proposes
There is no need Of national law to call
presidential primaries into being. There
probably will be need Of a national law
to regulate them.-New York Tribune
The President enlvens his argument
for a NATIONWIDE presidential primary BY
inJectlng new proposition relative to the
personnel of national conventions called
10 ratify the results Of the primary and to
adopt party platforms. He would choose
as delegates the nominees for Congress.
the nominees for vacant seats in the Sen
ate, the senators whose terms have not
expired. the national committees, and
the candidates themselves, "in order
that platforms may be framed by those
responsible to the people for carrying
them into effect. Inasmuch as the
Presidents suggestion would have the
effect of sending only partial delegates to
one convention or the other, or both con-
ventions. from many OF the States, it
would seem that the proposition is only
tentative. - Washington Post.