The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1914-10-23
NOMINATIONS BY
DIRECT PRIMARIES
a New State Constitution Offers the
Opportunity 20 Secure This Mod
srn System.

Nomination of candidates for Of
fee directly by the people Is rapidly
displacing the old party convention
system in the United States.
Indiana is one OF the states that
has not thus far looked with favor
upon this innovation. We have been
content here with the old party eau
cus-convention methods, system
which has constituted one Of the
greatest sources OF strength to the
political machines and been q con-
spicious agency for inefficient govern
ment. The gross frauds and strong
arm methods practiced under this
system make black page in the po-
litical history OF the country.
Ii is true we have experimental a
little in Indiana with a doubtful form
of local party primaries. This makes
their use optional with the party or
ganizations of each county. They
cannot be properly safeguarded and
they represent no test of the merits
of the direct mandatory primary.
The direct primary method of
nomination of candidates is now in
operation in thirty states. Included
in the list is every state in the
middle west with the exception of In
diana, This legislation has been
stoutly opposed by the political bosses
and the interests they represent. A
ixrrfI - 10 Of
ed, many OF them, on account of
this opposition, so compromising. in
character or so loaded with restric-
ti6n% as to be of doubtful value in
carrying out their purpose. But
though ..jokered" and harassed and
discrsd3aed by these agencies, the di-
rect primary, as a principle of po-
liticaF action, appears to have taken
a firm hold upon the people, Like
the other'modern institutions Of popu-
lar government, 1t is undoubtedly de-
stined to- Become permanent fixture
In our political system. Where now
or unworkable, doubtless
ways Will be found to correct the de-
fects.
Il is possible to secure the direct
and manGa .ry primary in Indiana
FhroUgh legislation. But at the best,
-it would be party act and unavoid
ably associated with the prospective
interests of the party that happens to
be in the saddle at the time of the
enactment. An adequate system de-
signed to serve the interests of all the
people can only come through a de
Lucrative non-partisan body like
constitutional convention The sys-
tenn should be made a part 1.-THE or
ganic law of the state, completely dis
associated with contending political
parties.
The best thought and experience on
this subject agree that to be an eff
fective weapon in the warfare upon
machine politics and to make politi-
cal parties truly responsible to their
membership, the primary should be
held by the state, at state expense.
state, wide direct, open and, pre-
ferably, that some system OF publicity
be established by the state to inform
voters concerning the principles adj
vocated by the candidates for office.
The Short Ballot and Proportional
Representation are late PROPOSALS as
sociated with the direct primary.
The principle of the first is that the
people shall vote only for the officials
responsible for determining policies of
government. It's chief purposes are
to secure a short ballot. and therefore
more intelligent voting and more d.
rect responsibility. and to keep admin
istrative officers out of politics. The
short ballot principle rs now IN op-
Grafton in about 500 cities.
Probably no state has more need of
at least some application Of the short
ballot principle than Indiana. 1t has
the usual long ticket, including, for ex-
ample. such n purely administrative
officer as the. .state statistician. while
the county and the judiciary systems
are quite extraordinary in their com.
piexity.
Proportional Representation 70 a
system OF conducting elections which
assures representation to all political
groups. according to their numerical
strength