Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1913-12-12
MUERrAs POwER CRuMPLINe.


NCO0ll0ueQ lTOm page ~
-hheIr enterprises and Investments and
= clear path indicated which they can
hravel without anxiety. II is as inn
Dortant that they should be relieved
ef embarrassment and set free to
prosper as that private monopoly
hhould be destroyed The ways OF
action should be thrown wide open.
turn to a subject which hope
can be handled promptly and with
out serious controversy OF any kind.
2 mean the method OF selecting nomi-
nees for the presidency OF the United
States I feel confident that 1
do not misinterpret the wishes
or the expectations OF the
country when urge the prompt
enactment OF legislation which will
provide for primary elections through.
out the country at which the voters Of
the several parties may choose their
nominees for the presidency without
the Intervention OF nominating con-
ventions. / venture the suggestion
that this legislation should provide
for the retention Of party conventions,
hut only for the purpose OF declaring
and accepting the verdict OF the pri-
maries and formulating the platforms
of the parties; and I suggest that
these conventions should consist not
of delegates chosen for the single pur.
pose, but Of the nominees for con-
gress. the nominees for vacant seats
IN the senate OF the United States, the
senators whose terms have not yet
closed, the national committees,
and the candidates for the presidency
themselves. in order that platforms
may be framed by those responsible
to the people for carrying them into
affect.
Obligations TO Territories.
These are all matters OF vital do
mestic concern, and besides them, out
side the charmed circle of our own
national life In which our affections
command US, as well as our con-
sciences, there stand out our obliga.
dons toward our territories over sea
8ere we are trustees. Porto Rico,
Hawaii. the Philippines, are ours, once
regarded as mere possessions, are no
longer to be sel1shiy exploited; they
are part Of the domain of public con-
science and OF serviceable and enlight-
ened statesmanship. We must admin
aster them for the people who live In
them and with the same sense OF re-
sponsibility to them as toward our
own people In our domestic affairs. No
doubt we shall successfully enough
bind Porto Rico and the Hawaiian is
lands to ourselves by ties of justice
and affection. but the performance Of
our duty toward the Philippines is a
more difficult and debatable matter.
'erous Justice toward the people OF
Porto Rico by giving them the ample
and familiar rights and privileges ac
corded our own citizens in orr own
territory and our obligations toward
the people OF Hawaii by pc -fecting the
provisions of self-government already
granted them, but In the Philippines
we must go further. We must hold
steadily in view their ultimate inde-
pendence. and we must move toward
the time of that independence as
steadily as the way can be cleared
and the foundations thoughtfully and
permanently laid.
Acting under the authority con-
herred upon the president by congress,
4 have already accorded the people OF
the islands a majority in both houses
of their legislative body by appointing
five instead OF four native citizens to
the membership of the commission.
believe that in this way we shall
make proof Of their capacity in coun-
lsel and their sense OF the responsible
lity In the exercise of political power,
and that the success OF this step will
he sure to clear our view for the steps
which are to follow. Step by step
we should extend and perfect the sys-
tenn of selfgovernment in the islands,
making test of them and modifying
them as experience discloses their
successes and their failures; that we
should more and more put under che
control of the native citizens OF the
archipelago the essential instruments
of their life, their local instrumentali-
ties of government their schools, all
the common interests OF their commu-
mites, and so by counsel and expert
ence set up government which all
the world will see to be suitable to a
people whose affairs are under their
own control
Territorial Rights for Alaska.
A duty faces US with regard to Alas