The Washington times., 1914-01-06
WILSON DEMOCRATS
To HAVE BIG DINNER
Common Council Club Decides
to Assemble Presidents
Friends From All Sections.

Democrats Of the progressive school
from all parts of the country will be
invited to attend an elaborate banquet
IN washington in the near future, un-
der the auspices Of the Common Coun-
sci Club, an organization made up OF
Democrats holding important offices un-
der the present Administration The
banquet. to be held on Common Coun-
sci Day" as the occasion will be desig,
mated. was decided on today at a large
" attended meeting at the University
Club.
This is the club which, it was re-
ported some time ago, was being form
here, with branches in all parts of the
country, for the purpose of fostering q
movement for the denomination OF
President Wilson in 1916. 1t is made up
exclusively of so-called Wilson Demo-
Gratis. While 1t is denied that the club
is seeking to bring about the renomina-
ton OF the President. it is admitted
that Its object is to back up progress
sive legislation, such as he has out
lined
At the meeting today interesting
speeches were made on various fea-
lures of the Wilson program Former
Gov. Joseph W. Folk OF Missouri,
now Solicitor of the State Department
and the head Of the Common Counsel
Club, made q speech vigorously up
holding President Wilson's proposed
Presidential primary legislation. Sec
retary OF Labor Wilson discussed Ia
Dor problems, and Louis F. Brandeis
outlined his ideas as to the kind Of
trust legislation demanded.
Reports were submitted showing
that applications hSd been received
from 500 school districts and city
wards in various parts of the country
for permission TO establish branches
Of the club. Among members OF the
Cabinet present were Secretaries Red
field. Wilson, and Daniels
Folk Outlines Primary Plan.
Solicitor Folks speech was as fol-
lows:
The opposition to the suggestion Of
Presidential preference primaries has
been IN large measure based upon the
theory that the Presidential primary
system would interfere with the rights
of the States to regulate and conduct
their own elections. There are always
questions Of detail In realizing upon any
plan Of progress, and there naturally
are some differences of opinion between
those who would have a nationwide
primary. the nomination to he made by
q majority or plurality in the ration,
and those who advocate the State plan.
For my own part, think the latter
decidedly preferable, and believe IT
would operate more satisfactorily.
There should be little difficulty in work
ing out such system, and an amend
ment to the Constitution, Il seems. would
Tot be required to carry this plan into
effect.
Congress might by law authorize
Presidential preference primaries to be
held under the laws of the different
states as State primaries are now ..eId
Accordingly, the candidate for Presi-
dent who received a plua .ty of the
votes of his party in a ate would
have the vote Of that State, which
sroule be calculated upon the basis of
representation of the particular State in
the Congress. For instance, the candi-
date for President who carried Missouri
would thereby have eighteen votes,
which is the vote of that State in the
national legislature All that Congress
would have to DO would be to make
provision, after the canvassing of the
vote by State authority, for forward
ing the vote Oh each State TO some CEN
tral official or board, established by act
Of Congress with power to tabulate the
returns from the different States, pro-
claim the result and announce the
nominees. This would, while in no way
interfering with the rights of the States,
give the people the power to select their
own nominees by direct vote without
the Intervention of political conven-
tions."