The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-01-11
Mr.. Ralston Continues His Series of
Articles on Maryland Politics.


corruption existing in our Maryland
elections. This work is necessary,
however, before discussing any remedies
and this same necessity compels one to
give some attention to our primaries.
The direct primary was hailed as a
great advance over the caucus and con-
yention system. With all its imperfec-
tions and corruption, it is undoubtedly
an advance. ANY system which broad
ems the electoral contest, changes
from one oyer precinct and election dis
trict to one over an entire county, or
from counties to a state, makes it
more difficult for concentrated chicanery
and corruption to triumph over the
general will of the respective parties.
Furthermore, direct primaries are yet
in their infancy. We have now a new
form of action but have not forgotten
our old habits. Our voters largely con-
tinue to look to leaders for direction.
Their point of view is slowly changing.
but the careful observe r is bound to be-
lieve that 1t is changing, and the indl-
vidual voter is becoming more independ-
ent of direction and control. If an arm
has been held in a plaster cast for
considerable length of time, we can
understand that it is only slowly and
painfully accustomed to freedom of
action. So with the end sought by the
direct primary. 1t will not be achieved
at one bound, Moreover, as we shall
SEE on further consideration, many
fundamental reforms must be worked
out before direct primaries can come
into their own.
Primaries are today more corrupt
than general elections. The system of
furnishing official ballots before election
to who ever might ask, which prevailed
in the counties prior to the last primary
election, made the results of vote buy
ing absolutely assured, and incidentally,
through accustoming voters to use of
money, had very serious effect on our
general elections.
Again for special reasons corruption
is much more possible and effective at
primaries than at the polls. Men not
integral parts of the machine are often
more Indifferent as to those for whom /
they vote at the primaries than they
are in choosing between the candidates
of their own party and a party with |
which they have no sympathy. Being
less interested they are more willing to
accept money. Besides there is usually |
no skillfully organized opposition intent
upon seeing that the laws are observed, /
at least IN form.
Men may rarely hope to be nominated !
for office under direct primaries-an and /
the same was true before they were in /
stituted-save with the approval of the |
party machine and if so nominated as
a rule, can scarcely hope for election. /
The aspirant for office having obtained /
the support of party leaders, the word |
is passed down the line to support him, !
and he is nominated and may be elect
ed. His first obligation is then not to
the whole people, not even to the party
at large, but to those who made his
nomination possible. Gratitude and
lively sense of favors to come moke him /.
a reliable agent for the party mana /
gers. Candidates With whom the |
machine is not sympathetic have to
fear working arrangements against
them between the two machines, which !
hate interlopers worse than they hate
their ostensible party enemies.
In practice the nominee is expectedto !
contribute literally to the organization.
to obtain his nomination. This trickles |
down to the party worker who. as
disciplined force, are usually able to
overcome all opposition.
Having all too briefly indicated some
of the defects and short comings of our
present system of controlling primaries
and elections, let US consider some
changes in the laws directly relating to
corrupt practices which must be &C.
complisheds even before we touch the !
wider questions which make it prof. |
table and easy to hoodwink the people |
into the belief that they have popular
government while their power is being
tilched away from them. No good
reason can be given for the making of
any contribution to the party manage
ment to insure nomination and strict
laws prohibiting such contributions
should be passed. No paid watchers or
messengers or employment under any
pretext whatsoever, should be per-
mitted at the primary, tor any danger
of wrongful counting or returning is
today practically nil. Voluntary
watchers, if needed, can be readily
obtained.
do not mean to say that candidate
should be refused the opportunity of
himself addressing communications
through the mails or newspapers to
those whom he is DESTROYS of serving,
notifying them of his ambition, but the