Omaha daily bee., 1915-07-21
Progress of Direct Primary
----Froasrios n. Davsnport in M ousioOt-

----FrodsrioR n Davsnport in Ths Outlet
vNHE DIRECT PRIMARY has swept the country.
/ ana although there is much criticism in many
states Of the way u works, there' is not ths
slightest chance Of s being given UP BY the people
except for something stI better and more effective
II Ia we'll known and appreciated All through TIE
west that Il the direct primary which completely
demolished tho eutrenched railway machine which 30
long defied political and social progress there.
The next step IN ADVANCE "a to work into the
direct primary the principle Of responsible leadership
For leadership democracy in America must have and
will have. either openly secretly. BY fair means
or foul II Re fighting the instincts Of human nature
10 oppose A. from John Adams diary we may per-
ceve how deeply s The necessity for II rooted In the
history o. American politics; Boston February. E63
This day learned that the Caucus club meets at
tain tnes IN the garnet OF Thomas Dawes the adju-
tant of the Boston regiment He has large house,
and he has a movable partition IN his garrett, which
he takes down the whole club meets in one room
There they smoke tobacco until you cannot see from
end Of the garrett 10 the other There they drink
flip. I suppose and there they choose moderator,
assestors, collectors. wardens, fifewards and
representatives regularly chosen before they are
chosen IN the town Uncle Fairfield story, Huddock:
Adams. Cooper. ara rudis indigestsque fhols 0f
others members They send committees to wait
the Merchants club and 70 propose and join IN
the choice Of men and measures. Captain Cunning
ham says they often solicited him TO those
they assured him benefit In his BUSINESS
etc. For The benefit o. unsophsticated Outlook
reader will say that ds indigestaque rhoiis. when
used In political connection. means bunch Of
roushnecks.
The preliminary "unofficla' conferences which
now held under the direct primary from New
York the Pacific by ali parties the direct
desceneants OF the earret and subterraneah gather
ings OF both the earlier and the later peri de OF popular
government IN America. And the instinct cannot be-
stifIed II should rather be legalized and made
sponsible and open: otherwise secret caba whether
benevolent or rnaieyclent is sure to flourish and DO
n continuing source " irritation IN democracy.
Governor Hughes met this problem squareiy while
he was the executive IN New York. lie proposed as
essential part OF the democracy OF his direct pri
mary plan that representative state leaders freely
by voters in the local assembly districts and
without power legally 10 perpetuate themselves. should
IN the most manner and with the NEST careful
LEGAL restriction. make the initial suggestions ef
state candidates for office. Bat the final determine
ton upon these suggestions ana upon all other sug
gestions which might likewise be freely made BY
petition. should lie with the whole body Of enrolled
voters IN each party on primary day with This open
and responsible and egalized leadership at the top
through popularity elected. committee popuafy
elected state convention. and with the town meeting
fe-estabshed everywhere at The bottom the direct
primary would fulfil the Of both representative
and direct Democracy far better than II does al
present The direct primary at present drives leader
ship 10 cover, and makes place for those splendid
gatherings and discussions in the small units Of
the nation which formerly cleared the air and informed
and trained the electorate. only In New England
but IN many other parts Of the country.
1t Is from the same standpoint that tile recall en-
cept within narrow limits, Is unsound and even
vicious N principle. n Is a blow az calm ard DELHI
crate and dighined and continuous leadership of
kind which democracy greatly needs As conditions
are IN America. most men Of real ability and power
shun public office and public career as they would
A pestlence. II you add 10 the difficulty Of bringing
such TO the front under threatening and dead
ennk machine system the further threat OF popular
nisnderstand ing and dlsapprovai before they have
time to show what IL IN them. we shall never get
All iead n n 10
much OF the recall in the United States must
make II worth while for Of weight and will even
TO listen to the call
\ The recall ls two-edged sword And It may harm
far than Il helps. Even in city government
those who have studied the psychology opposition -
a new Administration that IN the OF the
usual four-yeaf term OF the mayor. for example,
the antagonisms. both rational and irrational lump
themselves at about the two.year period, just when
the recall under the law is usually made operative
II the mayor OF city is TO be recalled at all he
should have a six-year term. and the recall should
be applied at the three-year period.
And 10 talk about the recall OF judges is to begin
az the wrong end OF a much needed reform Tho
judiciary h well adapted to the prevailing elective
system Men Of the hight temperament to be judges
arr not usually not GOOD campasnefs. In the past
their nomination and election have frequently been
looked after for them: that Is. they have been
machlhe-nade or corporauon-nade, or both. We have
got many good Judges in this way. but Il Is bal
way The nonpaftlsan direct election OF Judges IL a
very little better Partly BECAUSE the voters do not
get their eye Upon the Judges as they do upon the
governor and partly because the better carnpaiglier
has the better chance inferior judicial defnakosues
are likely slip IN. And yet the people ought to have
final control their Judges. every other
polioydeterninnE officer And judges IN America ara
certainly polley-deteEihihhg officers IN good many
public cases.
These experiences and reflections are leading the
minds OF many thoughtful persons IN the country
towards semi appolntive Judiciary for the
NeAths ~ which the governor. the natural and re-
sponsble leader Of public opinion who Il coming 10
be held more strictly to account By the people than
any other public officer IN the state. shall first
recommend persons for the higher iudgesbpe Their
shall 80 upon the ballot with the words after
them 'Tsecoinhshdea By the Governor" In the
group shall be- any other suggested by
sufficiently large nuhhef OF petitioners And on cleo
ton day the people shall choose between them Here
you have the element OF responsible leadership under
the final echlfol Of the people themselves. II this
correct certain eVlis Of our judlclai system
shall then be obliged to se the people more direct
final control over judicial awmakne itself or else
be driven TO the practice Of ali qher civilized nations
OF separating entirely the function judicial law
making from the function Of adjudication.
TO summarize the substance OF our experience with
direct democracy. there be no essential antag-
oHissn snywhere between leadership popular rule
between Representative government direct denoc-