Evening star., 1915-09-09
interpreted and embodied in afirma-
tive action, Legislative and executive.
Gave Rise to Abuses.

The convention system gave rise to
abuses. Bosses and machines were
able to control the convention, but
even under the worst boss and the
worst machine the convention was a
body with a sense of some resuonsi-
bil1ty growing out of it's desire to NOM
mate ticket which would win in the
election: and therefore while it may
nave nominated many machine candi-
oates whose. selection did not make
tor the public interest, it frequently
nominated men Of strength and popu-
larity and high character in order that
the ticket might be vote-getting
one.
Under the system of the general
primary there Is no such responsibility
Especially is this true in the selection
OF the subordinate officers Circun-
stances of no real or proper signifl-
canoe in the selection of qualified can
Nor is it true that the general pri-
mary is any less subject to the control
of machine and the boss and a po-
iitical organization than convention.
Primaries are usually attended by a
minority Of the party. In other words,
the result is much affected by the num-
Der who can be aroused to come out
to vote, and that depends upon organi-
zation. This places in the hands of the
politicians who have an organization
the means to control.
The representative system in legis-
latures and in conventions will
work well if the people who ought to
vote will turn out, and it will work
deal better than the initiative and ref
erendum and the general primary. But
we should realize under any system
the politicians will control, if the peo-
pie fail in their electoral duties"
Benefits to Labor Unions.
Mr.. Taft said trades union had Sc
cured much benefit for their members
through the political influence they
have exercised; that they are here to
stay and will remain powerful factors
in the progress of the community. He
held that the chief ground for criti-
cising the recent policy OF trades
unions is that with the power they
have legitimately acquired by COM
bination they are now attempting to
place organized labor in privileged
class. He declared that the Clayton
act. making legal a secondary boycott,
might work great hardship upon en-
p1oyers.
Interest in the final business session
in the afternoon centered in the cleo
tion of officers and the selection of the
1915 convention city. Because of the
nomination committee usually have
been tantamount to election, it was be-
lieved that James X. Lynch of San
Francisco would be chosen president
and that Peter W. Goebel of Kansas
City. Mo-. who yesterday defeated Sol
Wexler of New Orleans, La, in commit
tee by a two to one vote, would be
elected vice president.
Indications were that Col. Fred E.
Farnsworth of New York would be re-
elected secretary by the general coun-
Gil. For treasurer, 1t was considered
probable that H. P. Gatling of New
York would be chosen.
With the vice presidency going to
Kansas City and in view of the fact
that the vice president usually succeeds
to the presidency, it generally was
thought that Kansas City would get the
next convention, although Atlantic
City. n. j., was expected to make a
strong bid.
Resolutions Adopted by Convention
The association. with one negative
vote. yesterday adopted a resolution of
fered by former Representative Corne-
Illus A. Pugsley of Peekskill, N Y,
pledging support to state and national
governments in an effort to obtain
practical preparedness along the lines
of national defense.
An amendment to the constitution
was adopted providing that no proposed
national or state legislation should be
urged by any section of the association
without the approval of the law COM
The convention adopted a resolution