Mexico Missouri message., 1914-01-15
rINEBAUoH, PROGRESSIVE, IN
TRopucEs A PRESIDENTIAL
PRIMARY BILL.
BACKED BY ALL HIS PARTY
Democrats hesltsnt About Putting
Wilson's Suggestion Into Form Of
a Measure-Sueh Law Might
Permit Women TO Vote.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

OF the Progressive party who, with the
approval Of the party's organization, is
.he first to get into the field of legis
lation with presidential primary bill
Representative Hinebaugh, Progress
tive, of Illinois, was the author OF the
measure to put into the law the spirit
and the letter OF the announcement in
favor of presidential primaries made
by the Progressive party in its con-
vcntion at Chicago one year ego last
August.
The legislative reference committee
OF the Progressive party has just met
and has given the bill of Mr. Hine-
baugh Its Endorsement. There are
some Progressyes here who think
that one of the provisions of the bill
is open to criticism and that perhaps
another bill drawn by Mr.. Hinebaugh
early last spring S in this one particu-
lar better suited to the case. The
measure just introduced by the Illinois
preventative, however, probably will
stand as the expression OF the Pro
gressiye party's endeavor in the presi-
Dental primary matter.
Thus far no Democrat in congress
has cared to crystalline the party chief
.sin's recommendation for presiden-
,al primaries into the form OF bill.
II was expected that jealous party
men seeking for prestige and renown
would put the typewriter through the
races and make a race for the bill
basket with the first proposition to
give effect TO the presidents wishes.
Nothing of the kind has happened.
Thus far no announcement of the
administrations purpose In its own
behalf has been made. II may be that
before long the president, on his own
initiative, Will see that a measure en-
hodying his ideas Is introduced. but
perhaps with his "one thing at a
time" program he will postpone the
Urinary day until some more convent
mt season.
HInebauah's Two Bills.
II vas early in the spring that the
first limbaugh primary bill was in
reduced into congress. AS has been
said, It has been superseded by an
other bill by the same author. In the
FIRST bill many of the election func-
Ions are left to the various states. In
the second bill there Is provision
which creates board of national
election commissioners to be composed
Of five persons, to be appointed by the
president. by and with the advice and
consent of the senate, and places In
the hands OF this national election
commission all the functions which
under the first bill would be left to the
various states"
Back Of the Hinebaugh bill stand
the Progrcssives now in congress.
While there is some difference OF
opinion, as has been said, concerning
The substitution Of the federal for the
state control features. the bill as 1t
stands probably win be made the
standard OF the Progressives' sane.
tioned legislation.
There are about twenty Progressives
in the house Of representatives. They
are not all written down in the direc-
tory as Progressives with a capital p,
but all OF them are in sympathy with
the Progressive platform and almost
always vote with the Progressives
when any matter OF principle is In,
volved. A bill drawn by Progressive
and backed by the entire representa-.
lion In the house will get the atten.
lion OF all the membership of all par
ties.
Would Permit Women to Vote.
II congress shall pass the presiden
iial primary law 1t is believed that un
der 1t women will be allowed to vote
4 constitutional Amendment is moi
necessary to put a presidential prl
mary into effect, There seems to be
nothing in the document to forbid
women from voting in presidential pri
maries II the law instituting them
shall be worded properly
Representative Lnfferty of Oregon
who is carried in the Congressiona
Directory as Progressive Republican
printed just as 1t IL here with ne
hyphen and with both words capital
i2od, has followed in the trail of Rep
'ascntative limbaugh OF Illinois anC
'as introduced presidential primary
tlii on his own account When Mr.
iaiterty came to congress he declared
himself n Progressive. II is now sale
mat he prefers TO be called a Republi
can though he wishes to be known a,
one with Progressive marks looming
large The Progressives. however. 4
"a said, will prefer to follow the presI
Dental priamry lead of Mr.. Hlnebaugh
No "tiarshness" for Business.
When Washington heard from
Indianapolis that Vice-President Mar
'nall had animated in an inter
view given in the capital OF hii
nome state that there would be nj
drastic Gati-tIust legislation this win
ter, there were some people VIII
thought that the vice-president haC
made' serious blunder and that h,
would find himneif completely at out
S''h the president OF the Uaitet
states.