Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-06-01
EVENING CHAT

This week for the first time the
State will have meetings of the po-
iitical State committees, which the
trainers, and agitators, of the primary
and general party act of 1913 contem-
plated should replace in Pennsylvania
the State conventions which have
played such large part in the affairs
of the country, and whose incidents
form such a fascinating portion of
the political history of the Keystone
state. There are people who doubt
whether the Statewide primary act
Is as much of an improvement over
the old system as was hoped and
whether the promises made in the urg-
ing of the new method will ever be
fulfilled. The tests of two primaries
have shown conclusively that there
are two things which nowadays will
pring man closer to a nomination
than anything else-money and a
name commencing with one of the
first half dozen letters of the alphabet,
A preferred. worth while and c
advantageous. In some cities thinking
men have already stgmatized the law
as "only for rich men," and expert
1914 rather bear out the idea. The
rich man or the man who can COM
mand wealth sufficient to get an or
ganiZat1on, whether he takes it out of
his own pocket or 1t is produced in
his behalf, has just as much in his
favor as the old-time political boss,
whom the new law was designed to
cast into oblivion. One has only to
look at the returns of May 19 to see
that the men backed by organizations
or whose names were far up in the
alphabet got the bulk of the votes
every time. The old convention sys-
tenn used to enable men to get to the
front and the stories of those of merit
and ability breaking in at such gath
erlng are known to thousands of Penn
sylvanians. Now, no matter how able
man may be, he stands little show
unless he has money or it Is raised in
his behalf, and only men of excep-
tional talents and in a nonpartisan
campaign can expect much sponta-
neous support.
The State committee meetings are
restricted to organization and the
adoption of resolutions with possible
speeches. by the men who won nomi-
nations at the polls. They are as devoid
OF opportunity for men to get to the
front as any person ruling an organ
1zation with rod of iron could desire.
The men who sit in such committees
have the same title to seats as did the
men who sat in the last State conven-
tlons. Both were elected by popular
vote. The resolutions, which will con-
stltute the platforms, will be the work
or few men, just as before, and the
men who will run on the tickets will
approve OF them, just as they did of
platforms years ago. Perhaps things
will work out better than many hone
now, but If there is not flock of pro-
posed amendments to the primary law
next session the present criticisms are
being made as pastimes.
In this connection it is interesting
to note the remarks of a man of State
wide prominence made while on visit
to this city few days ago. "Pennsyl-
vania is fioundering with a system of
primary laws that have been working
in the Southern States for some time.
and If You can show me common
wealths more machine-ridden than
those from which we borrowed our
primary idea, bring them on. The
control of States south of Mason and
DiXons line, where Democrats are in
the ascendant, is the theme of novels.
We are also verging on borrowing the
liquor regulation systems of the South.
In short, we are trying ideas from a
part of the country where conditions
are vastly different from our own and
which we regarded with amusement
dozen years ago"
Saturday seemed to open the auto
mobile touring season for Harriburg
as there were numerous parties here
to see the city and the State buildings
and everyone of the hotels entertained
people who stopped here on their way
to or from Gettysburg and other
| points of interest. The number OF
parties, incidentally, is reported to
have been larger than at this time last
year, probably due to the fact that
the late Spring has kept many people
from getting as early starts as usual
| The general complaint of everyone
was the conditions of the roads, the
local authorities having eased up on
care of their highways when they saw
that the controversy over use of the
| income from automobile licenses was
tying up the States work.
What a remarkable difference the
few storms of last week made in con
ditions about the farms near the city
and indeed in many lots and gardens
| in Harrisburg. Where there was moth
ing but parched earth a week age
there are now to be seen plenty OF
rows of corn and other plants push.
ing their way through the soil. The
small fruits are also perking up and
there is an improvement among the
flowers and ornamental patches thai
is well worth noting. If only a few
more rains fall there will be a boun-
/ tiful summer, as vegetation, while
late, is now getting good hot weather