The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-05-23
DIRECT PRIMARY
FIGHT HAS BEGUN
Governor SuIzGr Declares That
Conventions Must Go.
STRONG REASONS, He SAYS

Scores Alleged Secret Alliances Be-
tween Special Privilege and Crooked
PoIitics-Asserts People Cannot Rule
Until They obtain Successful Meth
cd of Nominating.
Buffalo, n. Y, May 19.-In plain and
forceful language characteristic Of the
man. Governor Sulzer told the people
of Buffalo and many citizens of the
surrounding towns who came here to
hear him speak why he is waging in
behalf of the people of the state a
warfare for the elimination of boss
rule from party politics. Political
conventions must go. Disgraceful Sc
cret alliances between special privi-
lege and crooked politics must cease
That is all there is to itp' exclaimed
the governor, in righteous wrath, as
he explained how the powers of gov.
eminent are subverted through mach
nations at such conventions.
Governor Sulzer declared his convic.
ton that every member Of the legisla-
ture is solemnly bound in honor to vote
for the direct primaries. The governor
called attention to the fact that the dl
rect primary bill is not a partisan
measure, but one for which there is
urgent demand all over the state
I'VE have been given party tickets
which reflect disgraceful secret ALI
ances between big business interests
and corrupt politics. 1t must cease ol
our free institutions are doomed" said
Governor Sulzer in conclusion. He
said in part:
Governor Sulzers Speech.
ut is self evident to me that If the
people are competent to directly elect
their public officials they are also com
petent to directly nominate these Off
cials; that if 1t Is important for minol
officers to be nominated by the peo
pie it is still more important that the
people be given the power to nominate
candidates for United States senator
and for governor: that if public service
corporations and special interests seel
to control public affairs for the promo
ton of their selfish ends through the
manipulation of party conventions the
plain people should seek to do the same
thing by taking in their own hands the
| right to nominate directly these impor
tant officials.
"The truth is that the delegate sys
TEN of nominating officers has com
pletely broken down and proved itseli
not only inadequate to carry out the
wishes Of the people, but it has be
come an instrumentality through which
the powers of government are prosd
tuted and brought under the dominion
of INSCRIPTIONS men seeking specia
privileges.
Appeals to the People.
! "In this campaign for direct prima
ries I am appealing now directly to the
people, and they are responding as they
always will respond when their rights
are jeopardized and their liberties arr
subverted, and they hear the call o.
duty and see the opportunity to asser
effectually their inherent power ant
inalienable rights
EVERY day see accommodating evi
dence of the truth. which / stated il
my recent direct primary message t.
the legislature, that those who would
subvert the powers of government t.
personal advantage and to special priv
ilege find their greatest opportunities
to carry on this nefarious work through
the skillful manipulations of politica
conventions.
Political conventions must go. Dis
graceful secret alliances between spe
cial privilege and crooked politics mus
cease. That is all there is to 1t.
"The spirit Of true democracy is sum
med up in the slogan Let the people
rule They cannot rule until they oh
tain successful method of nominating
candidates of political parties.
New York state is one of the las
states in the Union to capitulate to tn
present day demand for popular rul
in the nomination of candidates 70
all public offices. 1t is bound to com
in New York, The fight is on, and tn
| peoplj are in earnest"