Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1917-01-04


political corruption existing in our
Maryland elections. This work is
necessary, however. before discusss.
ing any remedies and this same
necessity compeIs one to give some
attention TO our primaries. The di-
rect primary was hailed as great
advance over the caucus and CON
vention system. With all its inn
projections and corruption. it ia nm
doubetedly an advance. Any sys-
ten which broadens the electoral
contest. changes ii from one over
precinct and election district TO one
over an entire county. or from coun-
ties TO a state, makes il more diff
cult for concentrated chicanery and
corruption to triumph over the gem
eral will Of the respective parties.
Furthermore, direct primaries are
vet in their infancy. We have now
new form Of action but have not
forgotten our old habits. Our vo-
tiers largely continue to look to
leaders for direction. Their point
Of view is slowly changing, but the
careful observer is bound TO believe
that il is changing. and the indiyid-
ual voter is becoming more indepcn-
dent Of direction and control II
an arm has been held in plaster
cast for a considerable length Of
time, we can understand that i Is
only slowly and painfully accustom-
ed to freedom Of action. SO with
the end sought by tie direct prim-
airy. II will not be achieved al one
bound. Moreover, - we rhall see
on further consideration, many fun
damental 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 70 who ever might AK,
which prevailed In the counties prior
TO the last primary election, made
the results OF the vote buying abso-
luieIy assured, and incidentally,
through accustominT voter 70 use
Of money. had a vers serious effect
on our general elections.
Again for special reasons eorup-
ton is much more possible and cf-
fectiye at primaries than At the polls.
Men not integral parts Of the ma
chine are often more indifferent as
70 those for whom they vote at the
| primaries than they are IN choosing
batween the candidates Of their own
party and party with which they
have no sympathy. Being less in
tercsted they are more willing 10
accept money. Besides there II "a.
nally no skniinliy organized opposi-
ton intent upon seeing that the laws
are observed. at least 10 form.
Men may rarely hope te be nomi-
mated for office under direct srimar-
les and the same was true before
they were instintted-saye with The
approval Of the party machine and
il so nominated as a rule, can scar
cely hope for election. The aspir-
ant for Office having obtained the
support Of party leaders, the word
Is passed down the Tine TO support
him, and he il nominated aud may
he elected. His first obligation Is
then not TO the whole people, not
even 70 the party At large, bat those
who made bis nomination possible.
Gratitude and lively sense Of IA
yors to come make him a reliable
agent for the party managers.
Candidates with whom the machine
is not sympathetic have 10 fear
working arrangements against them
between the two machines, which
hate inierlopers worse than they
hate their ostensible party enemies.
In practice the nominee is expect
ed 10 contribute literally to the or
| ganixation to obtain his nomination.
This trickles down TO the party
workers who, a. q disciplined force,
are usually able 70 overcome all OPP
position.
Having all too briefly indicated
some Of the defects and shortcom-
ings Of our present system Of con-
trolling primaries and elections, lei
US consider some changes in the
laws directly relating TO corrupt
practices which must he accomplish
ed even before We touch the wider
questions which make il profitable
and easy to hoodwink the people In
to the belief that they have popular