Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-07-05
JORDAN RAPS
PRESIDENTIAL
PRIMARY LAW
Plan Evolved to Get Relief
From Boss Dictation
Falls Short.
SYSTEM COST HEAVY
BY DAVID STARR JORDAN.

BY DAVID STARR JORDAN.
Copyright, 1920, by international
News Service, Inc.
SAN FRANCISCO, July SIN
watching the balloting, am i'm.
pressed with the futility of the presi.
Dental primary in the states where
it has been developed and the mis-.
chief involved in the unit rule, by
which the vote of the individual state
is delivered solely by the majority of
the delegates.
The presidential primary was estab-
lished ostensibly as a means Of relief
from the dictetion of the bosses in or
der that the actual choice of the people
should be registered, but the people
have no direct means of making up their
minds except through the medium OF the
press from which we draw most OF our
information.
The httest man in any party IL sell
dom known to attain a small fraction of
the votes, while those in the limelight
Of the press often accumulate enemies
numerous enough to destroy their avail
ability.
CHOICE BY
DISTRICTS.A
Our governmental theory is that when
large issues are concerned the masses
should speak through chosen representa-
tives and not individually.
To be representative, the delegates to
the party conventions ought to be chosen
by the people by districts, and they
should be voted. on individually and
locally, not on single statewide ticket.
Under the present system the voters Of
each party are offered a single regular
ticket selected by party managers in the
nominal interest of some 'favorite son."
Only rarely is such a ticket contested
and conditions In general remain about
the same as when delegates are hand
picked by some state committee.
Moreover, the publicity involved in
our primary system costs an inordinate
sum Of money.
Those with small means are thus de-
barred from candidacy while wealthy
men or men with wealthy hackers are
easily tempted into inordinate expendi-
ture, which fact recently caused the de-
feat OF two Of the leading candidates in
the convention at Chicago.
STATE SHOULD PAY
FOR PUBLICITY.
In a properly regulated primary, the
representatives should have the right TO
vote as individuals and the state should
pay for publicity necessary TO place
each candidate before the people.
The whole system should Furthermore
be unified under federal law.
The unit rule sometimes increases the
Importance of the state in a critical sit
uation.
7. a rft-.r.- Aa--.-a~ e. ~ ro~,- @ba H.
cislon into the hands Of the state boss,
an individual who cares mainly for
local interests and has no regard for the
future OF the party to say nothing Of
national and international Issues.
In today's contest it was evident that
most Of the great states Of the middle
west are controlled by the party boss.
Ohio is In fact, the visible center of
wet coalition, the leaders OF which are
fighting with their backs 10 the wall
against prohibition on the one hand and
good government on the other.
AS I write It would appear that Tag
CART, Murphy, Brennan and their allies
viii not succeed in their purposes, though
they may force the substitution OF some
other name, perhaps Owen. for that OF
McAdoo.
Their objection to McAdoo is said to
be that he has not played the game"
He has, in fact, chosen as his subbordi-
mates men who do not have the indorse-
ment OF the leaders or bear the stamp OF
the party itself.
EIGUREHEAD
NOT WANTED.
The immediate future OF the democratic
party depends on the triumph OF its
statesmenlIke elements
A tool aOurahaaH t. fbaoo A,.. ,rhon
gigantic world interests are at stake
might do incalculable damage to our af-
fairs at home or to our prestige abroad.
The republican convention has forced
our people to look toward the democrats
for relief
After rhe nomination of Harding a
prominent republican is reported as say
Ing that st will be hard for the demo-
Gratis to keep from winning this year"
But they may possibly offer a eandi-
date even worse than a fgurehead, one,
In fact, positively offensive to the great
Independent electorate who may control
the issue In November.
BRYAN ECLIPSE
NOT EVIDENT.
The political eclipse Of Mr.. Bryan is
predicted by some as a consequence OF
his failure to put over his "bone dry"
resolution.
do not share this belief, although 1t
is evident that his activities are being
confined to his two great objects in life,
the abolition of alcohol and the estab-
lishment Of world peace.
He is the greatest preacher Of our time
and he will venture again into the po-
litical arena when some matter OF good
morals or good government is again at
stake.
So long as democracy exists 1t must
face organized gamblers and organized
greed, as we'll as combinations Of office.
holders and of men who would wrest
office from their grasp.
Which of these varied groups is most
menacing depends on circumstances, but
in any case the Bryans Of the future as