Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-03-13
PRESIDENT WOULD be GAMER IF
PREFERENTIAL LAW WERE
ADOPTED.
MIGHT BE EMBARRASSING
TO SOME REPUBLICANS
South Opposed to Change in Method
OF ssieet;ns Candidates. Generally
Conceded That Wilson Will Have. No
Strong Opposition For denomination
mo Desirs For Open Composition.
Especial correspondence.l

Washington, March 13.-Politicians
here are watching with keen attention
! developments on the subject of presi-
dental primary law.
A recent statement that Senator
Pomerene. of Ohio, was giving close
! study to the primary and would intro
duce next session a bill which he hoped
would have the approval Of the presi-
dent is indicative of the fact that under
the surface there is good deal stirring
on this important matter.
Altho President Wilson at one time
came out for the presidential primary,
he did not press for legislation on the
subject. He was accused because of
this of having lost desire to have such
law passed. His political critics
ascribed this to the idea that he did not
care to see law put into force which
might compel him to compete in ANA
tion-wide primary with such possibil-
tiles for the democratic nomination as
Clarke, Bryan or Underwood.
However that may be, the White
House version of 1t was that it had
been found extremely difficult in prac-
tice to work out a suitable law. 1t was
found that the southern states were
disposed to look askance on presiden-
tial primary Legislation if it was calcu-
lated to minimize their Importance as
factors iii the nomination ct presi-
Dental candidates.
What Will Wilson Do?
The thing that is not clear here as
yet is whether there is going to be
made in the next session of congress a
determined and persistent effort,
backed by the administration, to enact
presidential primary law. The prob
abilities are that If the president set
himself to the task of getting such
law enacted he could accomplish it.
1t might prove extremely troublesome
to large group Of republican candi-
dates for the presidency if presi-
Dental primary law went thru. 1t
would not prove particularly trouble
some for President Wilson. The indi-
cations are that the day haS gone by
when any rivals for the dAmocratic
nomination win get into the game
against him.
Unless the proposed presidential pri-
mary law contains the most rigid limi-
tations as to campaign expenditures
ard provides for some SYSTEM to make
it impossible for lavish outlay by can
didates or their friends. it will be prac
tically impossible for poor men to run
effectively as presidential candidates.
Under presidential primary law, il
not most stringently restricted as to
expenditures, number of the aspirants
for the republican nomination will not
be able to get into the fight unless
someone else finances them. Few of the
members of senate or house who are
keeping an eye on the republican NOM
ination, for instance, are men of such
means that they can afford to go into
an expensive primary campaign.
II the president wants to put the re-
publican presidential aspirants. or
many Of them. into an embarrassing
situation. he will insist on the presi
Dental primary law. OF course. sys-
tenn whereby the government would
bear the cost of the primary and pro-
vide system Of publicity. somewhat
on the Oregon plan. would enable the
poor candidate to make the race.