New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-19


the following emphatic and sensible COM
munication:
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: A thousand times would we rather
have that man whom the people choose, even
in their weakest efforts. than the one who
is the result Of the choice Of conniyers IN
party oouclayes.
Keep the Direct Primary!
THEODORE MICHEL.
Brooklyn, June Il.
There ought to be no question about
keeping the direct primary. AssuredIy
there ought to be no question about the
discussion Of this subject in the councils
Of the Constitutional Convention. 1t is no
more a matter for that body to handle
than is the fixing of an open season for
trout. Prominently it is q subject for
legislative action. One Legislature has
Given the state the direct primary. An
other-the latest one-has refused to cur
tail that system Of making nominations IN
any degree. Il would be a great mistake
for the Constitutional Convention to step
in where action is so manifestly outside
its functions.
So far as this state is concerned the
direct primary issue was settled-and
settled satisfactorily, save as to details Of
the law-when the partial adjustment Of
conventions accomplished in the Dix ad-
ministration was made complete by the
law which Governor Glynn signed. There
was minority Of the public which fought
the direct primary then, and remains un-
recorciIcd to it now. The arguments
voiced against it then by its opponents in
politics and the press are being revived
now. Witness the following comment by
our neighbor The Sun:
The attempt to substitute the direct pri-
mary for the open convention and TO make It
the exclusive method Of selecting candidates
for Office is one Of the most dismal failures
ever recorded IN the history Of experimental
or tentative poI-ic-.
II there were evils inseparable from the
formcr system. there is the actual develop
ment "a. well as the manifest potentiality Of
evils hunaredfo,d greater in the secret and
complicated machinery Of this mistaken e.
fort 10 change human nature.
This despite the fact that from small
beginning the direct primary nominations
system has come into use for some or all
officials in more than thirty states Of the
country, and has never been abandoned by
one which has tried it.
Whether or not this bit Of political
mechanism can Change human nature" it
has been regarded and properly so, wher-
ever it has been adopted, as a first step
toward the liberalization and populariza-
ton of government, heretofore unduly
controlled by professional politicians. The
spirit which opposes it is brother to
the spirit Of the opposition of Mr.. Will
lam Barnes TO workmen's compensation,
widows pension and minimum wage laws
and legislation of similar import.
A successful attempt to curtail the sys-
TEN here would be as much step back
ward as would be the repeal of the work
mems compensation law-as was the IN
successful endeavor to wipe out the laws
protecting women and children workers
in canneries. Different phases Of the com.
munity's progress would be assailed, the
motive of the assault being the samoan
uncomfortable distrust and hatred of any.
thing which tends to break down priv
ilege, whether it be the privilege of the
political boss or of the overgreedy
employer.
The Tribune can imagine nothing more
certain TO bring about the rejection Of the
entire new constitution than for the con
vention TO include in it an assault on the
direct primary and some Of the reaction
airy proposals which Mr.. Barnes is back
ing. limiting the Legislatures power K
adopt so-called social justice" measures
The Tribune can imagine nothing more
disastrous for the Republican party in this
state than the submission of such docu
ment by this convention, which is over
whelmingly Republican.