El Nuevo mexicano., 1919-01-09

u is generally known that the leg
lisiature OF the state Of New York, re
sponsive to a growing public senti
inent In that state, is preparing to re.
peal the primary law which has been
found to be unsatisfactory in its work,
ings. There is on foot a movement to
try out this millenial public plan in
Arizona. But, beautiful as it Is ir
theory, there is no question OF the
abuses which have almost emasculated
its effectiveness for the achievement
OF Its original purpose. In this IN
~nection we reprint herewith an edi-
torial from the pen Of Allan B. Jaynes.
of the Tucson, Arizona, Citizen, which
may we'll give pause to the legislators
of New Mexico. Mr. Jaynes says:
@The Legislature which win meet
this month will take up the question
OF a revision Of the primary law. The
best move they could make would be
40 arrange with the governor to call
q special election to submit the ques-
ton of a repeal of the direct primary
provision OF the constitution to the
vote of the people. The present law
has been a failure. 1t has not brought
lout the best men for office. 1t has
not done away with the party boss.
About the only thing it has accom-
plished is to provide two elections
and making the expense or running for
office almost prohiDitive.
~rhe fixed opinion Of those who
have impartially observed its opera
lions is that it has not produced re-
suits j~ustifying its retention, while in
losing the state convention the people
OF the state have been deprived Of an
institution naturally adapted to their
instructive political methods and pei
culiarly suited to their needs.
THE effort to fill the place
occupied by the state convention
through the holding Of unofficial CON
ferences has proven unsatisfactory.
Those who attended these gatherings
unable either to speak with rep
resentative authority or to act with
binding force,
AN experiment worth trying has
tried. The conditions n some
have been such as to make the
successful. In Arizona,
however, it has failed dismally-
Dissatisfaction with the direct nom
of candidates for state office +
and the indirect e~nunciation OF party
doctrine at un official conferences has
been shared equally by men of all par
tisan affiliations.
IT has not been a case in which Re-
pubIicans complained Of a law enacted
BY Democrats, or Democrats found
lault with a code defended by Repub-
icans.i Men of all parties and men OF ,
10 party have Joined in adverse crit !
to eliminate bosses, but which I
lctually did make more difficult the
expression Of the political desires OF !
within the organization ]
through which they chose to make
heir influence felt. !
Scarcely had the law been enacted 4
'efore its defects we're made appar-
mt, and for years there has been an 1
nsistent demand that 1t be repealed ]
nd the convention system restored /
his demand has been unheeded I
because of the reluctance OF 4
legislators and executive officers to I
ppear in opposition to legislation
bears the stamp of reform. ]
But now, direct nominations having
cen honestly tried under the same .
rejection of penal laws which guards
ne ballot on election day, and having :
cen found wanting even among those !,
hopes for their success were I,
there is a prospect that the i,
tate will have the convention system n
to 1t, under safeguards con- 1
the election and seating of n
that experience has proven a,
and that politics will return IN
iIs natural channels, wherein popu-
: opinion can find free and easy ex- III
I'll
THE ~fallacies that underlie the di. ST.
,ct nomination project have been W
nply exposed The device is a fail ki
,e. The legislature that is about to ly
,nvene should respond to the public al
and arrange to submit a meas
re to repeal the direct primary pro- p
sion In the constitution to a vote of til
q people, in order that the state may or
J rid Of a failure and a nuisance, and 81
10y once more the agencies of party
'g~anization Of which the voters are q
wv d~eprived.p ne