The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-03-21
Wilson Swings the Whip.

Wilson Swings the Whip.
The one outstanding feature of the Demo-
cratic state convention its resolving in ia
vor of the direct primaries. A direct primary Is
q very desirable thing, but it is rather doubt
full whether, under the circumstances, the Demo
cratic party of Indiana deserves any credit Tor
endorsing it.
He who makes a careful analysis of all the
published reports of the assembly will come very
clearly to see that it was President Wilson who
put the primary plank in the platform, and not
Indiana Democracy. Governor Ralston was OPP
posed to it. Tom Taggart was opposed to It,
large majority Of the delegates were opposed TO
it. When the plank was read, barely tenth
of those present gave it any applause. Had 1t
been advocated by Delegate So-and-Sofrom Blank
county, it wouldn't have received hearing. The
only reason It did receive a hearing was that
President Wilson had commanded, and Indiana
Democrats were compelled 10 give reluctant
assent to the proposal
But, as might De expected, The thing was
put into such shape the people will be previously
little benefited oy It. According to the plank
as adopted, owe declare in favor OF statewide
primary election law. the state convention
to be retained for the purpose of counsel, organ
ization and declaration Of party principles and
preceding the nominating primaries"
For The convention 20 precede the primary
means in the long run that candidates will be
selected by The gang in the good old way. The
Organization will meet in it's various conclaves,
secret semi-secret and public. Various eligibes
will be discussed from various angles Those
that give their promises TO be good and to fear
Tom Taggart will be gently pushed forward into
the lmelight Halls will be rented, bands Sc
cured parades arranged, red lights burned, adj
vertising posted and the faithful press be moved
to salaam the Amounted ones With the "organ-
zation'' backing Up "citizen" modestly propos-
ing himself as satisfactory candidate to repre-
resent the people, what chance has some indie
pendent whose sole merit is qualification for Of
fee?
Whe,. President Wilson advocated presiden-
tia 2r:r~r;es. he insisted that the primary be
held afte~ The convention. He wanted to avoid
this very hing Of the party "leaders' getting
together to make out slate secretly to be put
W, to the peope.He considered this so essential
to the success of the plan as to make it an inte-
grail part of the proposal itself. The Indiana
Democrats showed that while they were willing
to accept his proposal in name, they were I'M
willing to accept it in reality.
This complexion of insincerity lies the
entire convention Not only this primary
plank bogus act, but the hosting of the banner
of Wilson progressivism was sheer hypocrisy.
From it's absolute ignoring of the state consti-
tutonal convention it's scornful indifference to
the initiative, referendum and recall, it is very
plainly seen that while Indiana Democracy has
assumed the form of forward looking" party,
it has not the power thereof It's guise is Will
Sonism; it's substance is Taggartism.
The one melancholy victory for the progress
sve Democrats was to score a record of popular
sentiment. The machine given a taste of
the winds that are loosening. 1t given a
sip of the cup it will some day be compelled to
drink 1t was given faint ntimation that boss
ruled political gangs are some day to be uprooted
from the party control, and that the accepted
theory of the American nation that it is gov
eminent by the people as well as for the people
will be somewhat more surely realized.