The Oskaloosa herald., 1914-03-19
PRIMARY BILL IS
TO. KID BY WILSON
Ad0cateS Statewide Law in
Indiana.
PLAN FAVORED BY BRYAN
Secretary includes Initiative and Ref.
erendum in His Endorsement and
Says He Cannot See How Any
Objections Can Be Raised.

Washington, March 1S.-That Presi
dent Wilson and officers Of his admin
istration have taken hand in the In
diana political situation became
known here when letter that the
president had written to Senator Kern
was made public at the White House
In this the president advocated a
statewide primary in the Hoosier
state. The letter will be read at the
Democratic state convention in lndi
annapolis on March 10 by Senator
Kern.
Wilson Interested in Primary Law.
Il have noticed with unusual inter
est" wrote President Wilson, your
interview the other day about the
absence of law for statewide pri'
maries in Indiana. ! was very much
surprised to learn that so great and
wlde-awake a state was so far behind
the procession in a matter OF such
capital Importance. ard | want to ex'
press my deep interest In your efforts
TO bring about the necessary legisla
ton. II would hearten Democrats ev'
erywhere to see this done by Indiana,
1T is remarkable that you should
have had the time and energy to de-
vote TO matters of state policy, deeply
important as they are in the midst
OF your work as chairman Of the sen
ate caucus. ] am sure all Democrats
are indebted to you for the intelli'
gence and conscience you have put
into that great task"
Bryan for Statewide Primaries.
Senator Kern also received a let
ter from Secretary Of State Bryan In
dorsing statewide primaries and the
initiative and referendum.
Il earnestly hope that your state
convention will declare for a state.
wide primary election law. wrote Sec
rotary Bryan. THE primary has be-
come settled practice in almost all
the state and is destined to be the
settled practice OF ell states. 1t
would be reflection upon the intelli'
gence Of the voters Of Indiana to say
that they are not capable Of dealing
with their own affairs as the voters OF
other statets. 1t is no more necessary
for them to select delegates to think
for them than it Is for the people OF
other states to think and act directly
through delegates. And the same may
be said in regard to the initiative and
refereDdum-those two reforms gen.
orally going together because the
same principle underlles both.
Sees No Objection to !. and r.
~ do not see how any objection can
be raised to the initiative and refer
endum; II the people have not only
the right to govern themselves but the
capacity to do so. they should be in a
position 20 coerce their representa-.
tives into obedience to their will.
The presidents Endorsement OF the
initiative and referendum ought TO
help you In the fight for these re-
forms. for he has had time to demon.
strate his devotion TO the best and
highest interests OF the party and the
approval which he has won ought to
strengthen these reforms"
Sharp for Russian Envoy.
Representative Sharp of Ohio will
he the next ambassador to Russia, &C.
cording to reports in high official cir
cles here. President Wilson practic.
ally has determined on this choice, it
is said, and expects to soon send the
nomination to the senate.