The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-03-28
Political Situation.

PRESIDENT Wilson, IN one OF his addresses 10 Con-
grcss urged nationwide Presidential primaries. A
bill to carry his views into effect was prepared and
introduced but for some reason, not Thea ex-
planned the matter allowed to drop. 1t now
transpires that the Southern Democrats. both in
the Senate and the House. intcrposed very serious
objection to the Presidents proposition. They
frankly stated that they did not want any Fed
eral interference with supervision OF their State
elections. To give tho national government con-
troll OF Presidential primaries might, in their opin-
ion. be the opening wedge i still larger degree
OF Federal jurisdiction.
Senator Pomercne, chairman OF subcommittee
OF the Senate Committee Privileges and Ecc-
tons. has submitted to the President report
which declares that constitutional authority
rests with Congress to pass law providing for
nationwide Presidential primaries. He holds that
the States may act separately and that general
primary law only be framed by Congress I'M
der amendment to the Constitution.
This means, OF course, that way has been
found to avoid playing with edged tools.
No attempt will be made during the coming
session to enact Presidential primary law and
the next national conventions will assemble under
the same conditions which governed them in 1917
In the sixteen States which have lrcsi-
dental primary system the delegates will he elect
ed by popular vote and in the other States the
usual conventions will be held There never was
much dob. -, p-os;do,,, ,,.;,-o,.s r.,o,,,;-o.;o,,
lint ndor ,b,. ,,-o,,ra,,, ,,,, .,,,-ooJ l,,, ,hor.
49,, 10 ,o.o ,,r,a, ~ T-,.;,1. -. I...
in recent yc,rs rb, d.,;r.d , second tern, has
been defeated for the desired denomination. The
r.vr.- NJ III, office : ,,o orca, 70 h. ,.;,bStood
The State political machines arc almost univcr-
sally controlled by Federal office holders. ap-
pointces OF the President, and they uanlpu
lat, N. State conventions DcIcqa,,s rIcdrcJ to
the President arc ccr,,i, 70 lac cb,.c,
In States ,,b,re IN. choice dc,cpd. imam III.
nonuar vote i ! also reasonable T., ,,,,,,o.c tina,
t,r President will h.v. ,hc ,,sl, ,r,,I The
natural desire ,,no, ,bo mr., - H.. r,c,,i,c-s at
his marty to indor>c him. his o,, rro,rincrc,. and
rho ia,, ,ba, he :; tho rcroo,;zcd Democratic
leader will g;rc hin, = ,rc,rrndor, ADVANTAGE
There j NO indcatior a+ the ,,rcsept time that he
wi, have any onpos;,ion. Secretary Brvan !, fax
ing 4 deem interest IN poI;,ic.I affair, and Ger
.ainI,, so far =. his own S,,,, !. concerned !,
cIoscI, watching al annoin.rrcn,> lie has NOT
however given any indication oi his prospective
candidacy There have been many ruluorS assert
ing that it is the intention OF Speaker Clark to
announce himself in the race but so lar these
rumors have failed to uatcrializc into facts 1t
may be that Mr., Clark. who still chcrI>hc> Prcsi
dental ambitions. will take occasion during his
circuit OF the United States thi, summer to gauge
public sentiment, po>tponug until next fall his de-
csion a. to whether he will enter the race These
two men are President Wilson's only possible
rivals, but, like the people who are rocking the
boat they can hardly give the President serious
trouble
1t must not be FORGOTTEN however, that up to |
The present time the President has said nothing |
As to his own po>iton No one knows dcfnit civ |
Odav whether he intends to abide BY the single |
term plank OF the last Democratic platform; !
whether he intends 1o he 4 candidate again. or |
whether he is secretly aiding and abctting the am
1ition> OF Mi BRYAN
One wonders, also. why this report against :, |
la1ion-v e Presidential primary law unexpectedly
made it> appearance. a, thi> time \, a matter OF
act there j vide difference. OF OPINION a. to- the
correctness OF the position assumed Lv Senator
omcrcnc Senator Owen. oi Oklahoma ior in
stance holds the opposite view: and a. r>t blush
he proposed statute would seem no IIca;cr tres
,a>> upon the rights 81 the States than tho Fed
raj quarantine Law the Federal pnrc iood law
he Federal white slave Law. the Federal anti
narcotic law 81 any pi the other Laws which seem
o u>urp the powers OF the States. For some
a..