The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1913-12-18
PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES.

tSSAothb ''hcVi . pan VI
direct primary and platform CONVEX
tons is not received with favor by tn
leading newspapers of his own party
Several openly oppose it, some ar
dubious and others are silent. Tn
Progressive party organs approve |
in the main, several Republican pa
pers are silent or non-committal, bu
progressive Republicans senator,
practically accuse the president Of
stealing their thunder, says the Port.
land Oregonian.
The New York Evening Post calls
this part Of the presidents address
the one sensation, and says:
He gives no hint of the way in
which congress could attack the prob
lem; cites no constitutional warrant
for his recommendation; refers to
none of the enormous difficulties, both
theoretical and practical, which would
obviously have to be surmounted. One
thing, however, is certain. Congress
and the country will not dispose of
this highly contentious subject so
lightly as the president appears ready
to do
The indianapolis News, which has
also supported Mr.. Wilson, agrees with
the Post that there will be long de-
bates before congress does anything
with the plan, and Cannot see that it
is any better or wiser when proposed
by Mr.. Wilson than it was when pro-
posed by Mr. Roosevelt" 1t says the
national government SHOULD have as
little as possible to do with the man
agement Of the affairs of political par
ties. 1t believes parties can hold pri-
maries, as they hold conventions, with
out law, and if they think law neces-
sary, their appeal is to the state leg
islature"
The presidents recommendation is
held by the New York World to be
the most sensational in the address.
That journal says:
He could hardly have suggested
subject less likely to be handled
or more certain to result in
serious controversy The national con-
vention is probably doomed; yet all
that is best in it can easily be saved
II the states themselves will enact
preferential primary laws to control
The delegates to national conventions.
Such method of nomination would
be more elastic than a presidential
and it would maintain those
elements of compromise
which gave to the United States two
such presidents as Abraham Lincoln
md Woodrow Wilson.
The Springfield Republican says the |
recommendation is radical and it
merits careful, but by no means hasty, I
1t goes on;
1t is our judgment that serious diff
iculties and Disappointment will be I
in working out the presi-
ential problem on these lines, in the :
bsence of more experience than The 9
ountry has yet had with the direct v
system in The respective
tates. Champ Clark and not Mr..
wilson would now be president Of the
United States, In all probability, If
a the spring of 1912 the voters of
ne Democratic party, still unenlight-
ned as TO the real requirements Of
ne swiftly changing political situa-
on, had been called upon to make a
rect nomination of their presiden-
al candidate. o.
The Boston Transcript sees in it $,
othing but political motive, saying Ii
lie president contents himself with il
-ging," among other measures, "such O,
reorganization of the presidential I
machinery as will Oh the tn
heels for his denomination in 1916"
5 Washington correspondent says
at practical politicians are saying
at the president advanced this start
Ig idea with full knowledge that
such legislation as he urged could
enacted by congress-" and con
lges:
The monkey wrench in the wheels
uld be an amendment, insisted up
by Republicans and voted for by
my Democrats in close states, COM
ling the enfranchisement of the
gro in Southern states where now
state laws forbid them
vote. The Republican party would
a unit, they say, for such an
endment, and how could Democrats
E Pomerene of Ohio, with 10000
yro voters; Lewis of Indiana, with
900; MARITIME and Hughes of New
'sey, with $4,000, and Kern and
yeiy Of Indiana, with the negroes
re holding the balance of power,
e against it?
2eiterating its approval of direct
of presidential candidates,
Chicago Tribune says "the presi-
IT'S plan for conventions is too i'm
-tant to accept without careful
vass of the changes it will involve
the novel conditions it will create.
continues:
With the general principle which
ms to underly the plan, the Trib-
, is in hearty accord, that is: That
responsibility of members of the A
ty in congress for the fulfillment ing
party pledges is az real and direct boI,
that of the president. To make -,
J the direct and visible the presence MIN
nominees in the par jun