Evening star., 1913-12-03
Suggestion for Nominating
Presidential Candidates
Warmly Received.
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
OF ALL PARTIES IN LINE
Some Jealousy Over Assumption of
Leadership by Those Who Claim
to Have Seen It First"

So popular is President Wilson's sug-
gestion Of nominating presidential can
didates by nationwide primaries that
there are indications of a stampede by
senators and representatives TO fall in
line with him under the banner he raised
yesterday. At the same time there is
considerable jealousy over his assumption
of leadership by men who claim to have
seen IT first and 10 have always been
advocates Of the plan.
There is Speaker Clark, for instance,
who is credited with being so much in
favor of the plan that he wishes il had
been in operation in 1912. There Is Sena-
tor Cummins. progressive republican. who
has a bill pending before a Senate com
mittee embOdying the idea. There Is
(Senator Norris. progressive republican.
who points out that the progressives
have always stood for presidential pri-
,naries.
And there are democrats of high and
low degree. in House and Senate. who
are enthusiastically appla uding the Presi-
dent and who last night. began filling
their lamps and trimming the wicks 10
burn the midnight Gil while drawing up
bills.
Even Senator Root, repository OF con-
servatism that he Is held to be. yields
ndJ1-nodTlC0 assent 10 the SUSkeStlOil anu,
at least. is willing to try 1t. out" as the
simplest way Of testing the practicability
Of the idea.
Senator Gallinger and Serene Payne.
two lone persimmOns on the now Well
denuded 'stand-pat'' tree, hold out
strenuously against the innovation and
stand stoutly for the old order OF things
while the winds Of reform" whistle
around them.
Wilson BEAT Them to It.
The politicians at the Capitol said TO-
day that President Wilson has very
promptly capitalized and appropriated as
his own political asset the existent sentt-
rf1ent in Congress in favor of primary
nomination of presidential candidates
No matter whether Champ Clark has
| cried for it since boyhood: no matter
| that the progressives and the bull mooe
| ers consider It q corner stone Of their 20
lftfcal structure, and no matter tha'
| democrats haKe been sciapaQf3Ag Tor q
| the fact appeals TO the politicians tina
President Wilson has beaten 'em to II
! by claiming 4 as democratic principle
| advocated by the tituiar head of th'
t democratic party f
That there will be acute difference
of opinion Hs to the working details
of the general plan is assured. Aireedl
! there are murmurs of opposition to th
Presidents suggestion tnat the oonyen
tons which are only to frame the at
forms. shall comprise in membership
candidates for Congress and for tn
! Senate. 1t is complained that this vii
make bund of office holders. result
! ing In diminution of influence of loca
party leaders in the states.
However. the consensus of opinion
| among statesmen Is that there arr
highly favorable indications of the
Presidents plan tyou see they are al
ready talking Of it as the President,
| plan" being effected. 1t is pointed ou'
that an argument in behalf of a changs
| is furnished In the unrest within the
republican party over the question OF
J representation in national conventions
and the demand for new deal at this
very hour under discussion. Even ths
republicans intend to mend thei: ways
according to all signs of the times.
Much Heated Discussion Expected.
At any rate, it is expected there will
be much heated discussion and argu-
ment, more or less learned. upon the
| subject, and the President, il is said,
has given Congress something to play
with and the politicians something to
worry over for the next few months.
| To say that the progressive republicans
| and the bull moOSerS are chagrined over
the Presidents earnest urging OF direct
nomina tions is but putting IT mildly. He
and now all they can DO. I is said. is
10 trail along and wailnper as they 60.
lis a sad story, indeed
Some of the me. too, expressions oi
! statesmen upon the subject are:
Representative Refill. o. Connecticut:
I'm the presence of Speaker Clark and
with recollections of the Baltimore con-
vention, the President courageOusly adj
yocated direct primary NOMINATIONS Tor
the presidency and vice presidency, hold
ing conventions only for the purpose OF
adopting platforms, the delegates to which
convention should be nominees for United
States senators and representatives in
Congress. members-elect of both bodies.
the national committeeman and the presi-
dentiaF candidates.
In other words. the delegates should be
those upon whom the responsibility of
carrying out the platform pledges viii be
placed Both these statements met with
the leartiest round o. applause and there
was no question as to the genuineness OF
the approval
Clark and Others Favor Primaries.
Speaker Clark have been in favor of
primaries ever since ! can ,remember.
Senator Owen of Oi1lahoma-The Presi-
dents suggestion for primary nomination
is what / have long been fighting for.
Senator Lewis Of Illinois. democratic
Whlp-The primary SuSSoStioH Is al Al
eyitahle development of democratic poll
cies.
Representative 4. Mitchell Palmer OF
Pennsylvania am unqua ifiedly IN favor
of the primary election suggestion mace
by the President. ,
Senator Norris of Nepraska-I III well
plea sed to see the President take up this
subject Of a presidential preference pri-
mary The progressives have always "a
vored this plan.
Senator Vardaman of Mississippi-The
presidential preference primary Is TN,
only way of getting back to governmeist
by the people. We have the system in
operation in Mississippi today.
Representative Hinebaugh. bull moose
leader. of Illinois, was greatly pleased
that the President should have SO earnest
ly indorsed the presidential primary plan
urged by the progressive republicans.
was the first to introduce in the House
at this session bill for legislation of
this character.
Variance in the Comment
ar 0rocldon<,c C,rurncfIn,a