Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-03-20
FEDERAL CONTROL or PRIMARIES
tIiouston POST

II j. stacd from Washington that to
Senator Pomrreuc "a Ohio hr, been
committed the task OF formulating The
presidential primary bll J. a. bc an
administration measure al the next SEES
.lon % congress. tho conclusion having
been reached that no amendment to the
constitution will be- necessary 60 rm-
power congress ~ take control w pre-
sidential PRIMARIES
While We can not see II that way.
believing that tho States have the sole
power a. regulate primary elections
within then borders. W. should r..i>
ter an smphgtlc protest against such
policy even n there were ne constitu-
tional obstacles.
II j. 4 matter ~ great regret ID u>
ha' President Wilson has wen looked
With -ympathy upon a proposition that
; SURE 20 open the way W Federal con
troll ~ elections. III once tho start Nv
made and Il would to- duHhlv painful
Il such control should bc finally csta-
blishcd by our own party after its
strenuous effort Ia the past a. defeat
II.
There - no obstacle in the way of
presidential primaries n the States want
them some States have already adop-
ted that method and probably others
Will. II they are permitted 10 10 SIS. but
even The States that hold presidential
pr'mary elections ought 10 pr,sribr thr
rules under which thr, ARE held. inst
az thev ought 60 control the subsequent
elections when the candidates of the
parties are voted upon.
As ~ the utility ul th, primary clrr-
ton system. th, experience at the States
varies. For instance. an States where the
parties M, divided I'M 4 narrow margin.
We find that the primary vote > always
small. .n fact ~ small shat the result
does not a@lvoyS indicate absolutely the
preference ui the palty majority. ON
the other HAND. in State, like Texas.
the primary vote * alvay, large and
men OF al parties freely participate IN
the democratic primaries because the
actual result 1T th. campaign h. prrhr.
vi iAil'' w ~ i'NFll ~ lH' IIlNiNFN
election.
Wh"rr conditions vary iu TIN, manner.
State authority IN unuur>tiunahly more
competent tu deal with ihr subject than
Federal authority. Besides. the
So1hern States have thc,r peculiar
conditions winch mo Federal law dr-
signed 10 appl, uniformly throughout
the country, could l.al with w \ salts
factory manner even though She larger
question ~ Federal control rf elections
were not a menace
The South States have been sleeping
for many Years with respect 10 their
reserved rights The Federal govern
nent has continued M rurruarh upon
these reserved powers until W. are
confronted with the possibility ol losing
what little state authority W have left.
There cneroarhmrut, have not only been
made with little resistance from the
South. but southern congressman have
IN large numbers gone So wild owe the
fads 81 rrogrys-INI,m that They are ar
lively @cndca,urnr to leftover their
States
With tin Federal government now IN
absolute control 81 transportation. the
public health .u \ large measure. and
other Important agencies 81 public SER
vice, vs. arc facing the demand far Fr-
deral control Of suffrage elections. mar
riage aud divorce. education regulation
oi the liquor traffic and Finally NJ party
operations
When once these changes shall have
been made effective there Will hr no
further need oi State government We
shall have a strongly centralized r.
public. ana the control OF oar local At
fairs. which III 81 vital 20 the peace and
well being Ut the South. will have de-
parted. We do not believe these pro
posed departures can be properly de
slgnated rs progressive. They are i'm
fact revolutionary. Whatever the -ad-
ministration and the party cacts may
determine with respect to the Federal
control of our primary elections. we en-
terrain the feryent hope that the pro
posal will be defeated. ,