Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-04-04

PRIMARY ST|RS
POLITICAL MUSS
Senators POmerene of Ohio
and Owen of Oklahoma
Have Difference Regarding
Constitutional Provision,

tsftCiAl CoNHhsFokDthCH 10 MORNING JOUnhaLl
Washington, April 3.-Senator At
lee Pomerene's alleged report to the
president against presidential pri-
mary bill bids fair to become the
subject of political gossip, If not of
controversy.
Already it is denied that he made
any report to the president and the
counter question is asked, "Why
should hey" The president is not a
member of congress. Senator Pom
creme is. This would seem to dictate
the direction in which his report
should resound.
However he may have made an
unofficial memorandum of his OBJ
jections to a primary bill for the
presidents information. This is prob
ably what he did. The acquiescence
in White House rule has not yet
reached the point where committees
OF congress file their reports with
Secretary Tumulty.
Wilson Asks Pomerene for Opinion.
There seems to be no doubt that
the president asked Senator Pomer-
enc of Ohio, who admits his fitness
for the task, to examine the problem
in all its constitutional phases. Pom
creme found the constitution dead
against the primary and therefore
against the president He gave voice
To this ponderous opinion, at the same
time expressing regret that the con-
stitution had been found so dun and
unappreciatiye of this precious re-
form
But it appears that Pomerene is
not the only pebble on the constitu-
tional sands. There is Senator Rob
ert L. owen of Oklahoma, who is an
admitted authority on everything
from banking to rules, from referen-
dnms to ratiocination.
Owen Disagrccs With pomcrenc.
Senator owen does not agree with
Senator Pomerent, and in the White
House yard within four yards of the
policeman who stands six yards from
the man who is raking the last years
program Of legislation out of this
years potential grass, he said 80 re-
Gently.
Senator owen holds that a primary
Is necessary to bust the machine in
both parties. Not only is u primary
necessary for this explosive process
but in order to break the machine
INTO infinitesimal bits q preferential
primary is needed.
Preferential System Tested.
In this connection there is a story
The Good Government league recent
ly held a convention in Washington
The preferential ballot was brought
out, busted and perfumed and the
delegates proceeded to elect a mayor
for Boston by the preferential sys-
tenn. First the delegates voted their
first choice, then their second choice,
then all their other choices. Under
IL,
vote for every nominee you do not
positively know has deserted his wife
| or fallen drunk in the street. Under
other choices you are supposed to
arrive at the will Of the majority. In
this ballot Robert M. La Toilette.
Senator owen, Charles Il. Hughes,
! Elihu Root, Woodrow Wilson and a
lot more were voted for. The grand
| panjandrum, who was explaining the
system, added up the votes. Nobody
\ was elected by first choice. Nobody
was elected by second choice.
| Choice Known After Much Figuring.
| All other choices were brought in
as pinch htters and after a deal OF
/ figuring the choice of the majority
was made known.
! A deaf delegate leaned toward one
/ of the newspaper men and asked
! who was elected?"
/ Senator owen" was the response.
! ooh, hell" was the rejoinder
! Such enthusiasm greatly encourages
Senator owen to continue his work of
swatting the machine in both parties.
I, If such giddy results can be gotten
out of such q simple thing as the cleo
/ ton of mayor what might not be
expected if the preferential primary
and ballot were extended to the United
States of America than the United
| United States of the world. The prop
osition is fun of possibilities and Sena-
tor owen is alive to them all
! Wilson's Interest Stirs Wiseacres.
| For the present he contents himself
( with saying that Pomerene is wrong.
| The constitution does not prohibit ma
tional primaries for national officers,
4 and electors are national officers.
What they do affects the whole Unit
/ ed states, just like the weather and
| the stock market. and therefore they
/ are all alike subject to federal con
troll. Senator owen has taken steps
against the stock market. The de-
partment Of agriculture is giving the
weather quite whirl. Primaries
come next.
| Meanwhile the soberer and more