Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-01-16
PRESIDENT WILL NOT INSIST ON
PREFERENCE LEGISLATION
az CONGRESS.
WANTS SUBJECT STUDIED
FOR ACTION At LATER DATE
Change in Attitude Made on Demand
Of Southern Democrats-Presidon
Attention Called to Absence OF Dec
Iaration on Question in Party Plat
forms.
IJohn Callan OLaughlin in Chicago
Trtbnpe1

lJohn Callan OLaughlin in Chicago
Tribune.l
Washington, Jan. 16.-President VIII
son has decided not to insist upon pres :
;dential preference primary legisla-
ton during the present session Of con-
gress.
To some Of his callers the president
made it clear he regards the question
as one of such tremendous proportions
as TO necessitate the most careful study
on the part OF the appropriate commit
tees OF congress. He will be content
therefore, with consideration OF the
matter by the committees and the de-
velopment of bill by them for con-
sheraton during the next regular ses-
sion a year hence.
The failure OF the president actively
to push this proposal means, in all prob
ability. there will be no presidential
preference primaries authorized by a
federal law for the campaign of 1916.
The congress which will be elected next
November will feel more disposed than
idential recommendations.
Wilson Forces Party Obedience.
Mr.. Wilson has been able to secure
the passage of his tariff and currency
bills and will be able to force thru his
antitrust program for a variety OF
reasons.
In the first place. the democrats
realize. even the conservatives among
them, that if their party Is to have a
lease of power it must display harmony
and join with the chief executive in en-
acting legislation proposed in the Balti-
more platform. Again, the president
has been chary in distributing federal
offices. and still has a large number up
his sleeve.
Finally, the constitutional provision
for the direct election of senators is a
powerful weapon in the hands OF the
chief executive. and members OF the
upper house are not disposed to have
1t directed against their candidates. for
reelection.
The democratic platform does not
call for a national law on the subject
OF presidential preference primaries.
and democratic senators, and to a less
extent representatives, do not feel It u
necessary to follow the president in
this matter. They have said as much
to him.
Southern Mon Strongest Opponents.
This stand particularly Is true OF
men representing the south. section
which since the civil war has been jeal
Gus of it's control over elections.
In presidential conventions southern
states have played an almost dominant
part in the selection Of the candidates
of the two old parties. II the federal
law should require the nominations of
the candidates receiving the highest
number Of votes. the south by reason
Of it's smaller voting population would
cut an inconsiderable figure In the re-
suit. II delegates should be elected in
primaries held under state laws the
south would be more disposed to
acquiesce in the reform. In this event
nominations still would be made by
party conventions.
But the president has suggested that
the conventions should consist not Of
delegates chosen for the purpose OF
registering the verdict Of primaries and
formulating the platforms but Of the
nominees for congress. the nominees
for vacant seats tn the senate Of the
United States. the senators whose
terms have not yet closed, the national
committees, and the candidates for the
presidency themselves.
Delay in Legislation Regretted.
The presidents action in putting the
soft pedal on the presidential prefer
ence primary legislation is keenly re-
GREETED by those public men who are
anxious the people themselves should
have an opportunity to select their own
presidential candidates in 1915.
If there should be no national law
on this subject, the country will see the
same spectacle two years hence that it
saw in 1912. There will be the same
gum shoe methods employed in the
south by various candidates, the use
of money for the bribery Of delegates,
and the adoption Of various corrupt