South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-02-19
STATUS OF THE STATE WIDE PRI-
MARY LAW AS \ PARTY MEAS
URE RESOLVES INTO QUESTION
OF EXPEDIENCY.

Exactly by what process of mental
operation those democrats, OF ex-dem-
ocrats. who got out IA the campaign
last fall and opposed the election Of
the democratic candidates, can expect
now 10 exert any considerable innu-
cnce with the democrats in the legis-
iature, it IS difficult TO imagine. Their
main plea, as they float about the
state house at indianapolis, and IN the
columns OF the press. IS that the party
having pledged itself in its platform,
10 the passage OF a statewide primary
law, it ought TO be true To its word.
There Is some logic to the argument,
but coming from men VINO concede
that they Will not be disappointed If
the law is not passed, and who de-
clare that they never expected that il
would be passed, IL is diihcuit 10 see
wherein they have any kick coming,
one way or the other. Up 10 the next
campaign time, at least, warnings
with regard TO the keeping OF cam
paign pledges made last fail, are due
only from people who will be disap-
pointed IL the pledges are not kept,
rather than from people who were
never in on those pledges at all.
There are two sides to this state
wide primary question, and that re-
gardles Of platform pledges In To-
caiities where primaries were held
last fall, there appears TO have been
quite as much dissatisfaction geneT-
ally, as there ever was with the old
convention system. People VINO mad
for a time been deyOut advocates of
the primary. have been forced by
some OF the unsatisfactory expert
ences of last fall. TO change their
minds back again. Ii Is true that the
primary system, even where it
is in vogue, is not ideal but it is q
pretty good experimental system, ana
ought to have afforded some improve
ment TO say the least.
The -Rinear bill before the
legislature is supposed to provide for
a scientific primary, and maybe it
does, but for thing to be scientific, is
not OF necessity. proof that it is per
feet. There IS a science of disease
as well as of health. We say this
without particular criticism of the
JOnes-Rinear measure, but to illus
trate an excuse for the skepticism
that exists with regard TO the advisa-
hility of passing any statewide pri-
mary law, in the face OF SO much re-
cent unfavorable experience with
primaries on the smaller scale.
The question of a statewide pri-
mary law passed at the present leRis-
lature. is decidedly more a question of
party expediency than of public expe-
diency. 1t might prove an expedient
TO both the party and TO the public.
or to one or the other. or neither.
AS a general proposition there can be
small excuse for a political party go
ing back on its platform pledges.
Only exceptional cases can justify it.
Terre Haute. for instance, comes
pretty close to being an exceptional
case, and even South Bend has not es-
capped all the symptoms so the ques-
ton remains 10 be fought out whether
or not party is justified In repudi-
ating a pledge, when in the opinion Of
those elected to work out its destiny,
there is an honest conviction that the
pledge was inadvisedly made.
There is unquestionably a whole lot
OF honest conviction in the legislature
on this subject. We opine also that
there is some conviction that is not
so honest There is a difference
sometimes between surface indica-
tions and what is hidden underneath.
You can even offer this as a suggestion
TO those who are favoring the state
wide law as a party expediency meas
ure. The argument that will be a
strong appeal for the bull moose
progressive vote in 1916. should not
be too ALFRED sure of their ground.
Bull moosers have been making notes
on recent primary experiences also.
There are some bull moOsers that have
undsrgOne changes Of heart-and
undergone the change backward even
so far as the republican party. The
statewide primary question presents
very peculiar situation. 1t Is al
most a conundrum.
But one thing is quite certain. viz;
that the democrats in the legislature
are not going 10 fall over themselves
10 heed the warnings OF men who
have already done as much as they
can to disrupt the party and who
concede their lack of faith in it, as
shown by many of their recent public
utterances. The question viii work
itself out from within. There is small
use OF worrying. even about the votes
OF men whom YOU know viii never be
satisfied. and never vote with YOU. no
difference what YOU do.
TIVE CONTEMPT PROCEEDINGS
We hold no brief FOR the lndianapo-