The midland journal., 1917-01-12
Article III

To the Editor of the Midland
Journal
have so far endeavored to point
out, though only in very general
way, something of the methods of
political corruption existing in our
Maryland elections. This work is
necessary, however, before discus
sing any remedies and this same
necessity compels one to give some
attention to our primaries. The
direct primary was hailed as great
advance over the caucus and con-
vention system. With all it's imper-
fections and corruption, it is un-
doubtedly an advance. Any system
which broadens the electoral contest,
changes it from one over precinct
and election district to one over an
entire county, or from counties to
a state, makes it more difficult for
concentrated chicanery and cor
ruption to triumph over the general
will of the respective parties. Fur
thermore, direct primaries are yet in
their infancy. We have now new
form of action but have not for
largely continue to look to leaders
for direction. Their point of view
is slowly changing, but the careful
observer is bound to believe that it
is changing, and the individual
voter is becoming more Independent
of direction and control. If an arm
has been held in plaster cast for a
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 consider
alton, 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 buying absolutely
assured, and incidentally, through
accustoming voters to use of money,
| had very serious effect on our
general elections
Again for special reasons cor
ruption 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 with which they
have no sympathy. Being less in
j -erested they are more willing to
accept money. Besides there is
usually no skillfully organized op
position intent upon seeing that the
laws are observed, at least in form.
Men may rarely hope to be nomi-
mated for office under direct pri-
,naries-and the same was true be-
fore they were instituted--save with
the approval of the party machine
md 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 sup
port him, and he is nominated and
may be elected. His first obligation
is then not to the whole people, not
even to the party at large, but to
those who made his nomination pos
sible. Gratitude and a lively sense
of favors to come make him a reli-
able agent for the party managers.
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 expect
ed to contribute literally to the
organization to obtain his nomi-
nation. This trickles down to the
party workers who, as a disciplined
force, are usually able to overcome
all opposition.
Having all too briefly indicated
some of the defects and short-com-
ings of our present system of con
trolling primaries and elections let
US consider some changes in. the laws
directly relating to corrupt practices
which must be accomplished even
before we touch the wider questions
which make it profitable and easy to