Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-25
DIRECT PRIMARY
FOR PRESIDENTS
Representative Kelly to Present
Bill for Abolition Of Ma
tional Conventions
PEOPLES WILL TO DECIDE
~ n star Correspondent

Washington. Sept. 25.--Abolisnm,h ~
Of national conventions for nominating
presidential candidates and the substi
tuition Of direct presidential primaries
will be urged in the next session Of
Congress by Representative NJ Clyde
Kelly, of Pittsburgh. independent Re
publican. and one Of the liberal group
in the House. Mr.. Kelly announced to.
day he has prepared bill providing for
primaries to be held in July of presidcu
tia years and will introduce it in D--
ccmber when Congress reconvenes.
He declared the convention system,
had Served its time and grown rusty
and worthless" The plan provided for
in his bill would result in the nomina
tion Of presidential candidates by the
great political parties exactly IA me
Governor Of Pennsylvania is at pres
cnt nominated, he asserted.
Judging from the sentiments Of
many members Of Congress with whom
] have talked. there will be consider
able support for direct primary plan,
Representative kcl!" said.
Representative Kelly's plans rt III
with the announced purpose of senator
Hiram Johnson. Of California. to make
q similar fight in the Senate. johnson,
defeated for the Republican nomination
at Chicago. despite the fact that he
had run away with tho presidential pri
marics in n ma iority Of the states where
they were held has already declared his
intention to wage war on the Convcn-
ton system.
Liberals Favor Move
In the same connection there has
been q growing agitation among liberals
! in national politics for the aboishment
| Of both the national conventions and
the electoral college. thus bringing
presidential candidates in direct contact
with electors and making nominations
and elections alike an expression of
popular will. 1t has been pointed out
| that twice in the country's history
presidential candidates have carried the
country by popular vote. but failed to
win n majority Of the electoral col
legc. These were Tildcn in 1879 and
! Cleveland in 1SSS. each Of whom re.
ceived plurality Of the popular vote
- Discussing the proposal to nominate
candidates bv direct primary. Repre-
sentative Kelly said:
wv are uSlUe HlutltfuIH century
political machinery to meet twentieth
century conditions. II we are to really
have government by the people we must
provide methods by which the people
may directly nominate their candidates
for President and Vice President of
the United States. The convention
system has served it's time and has
grown rusty and worthless. II Is
| time now to develop new machinery.
for If the people cannot select their
own candidates. as well as elect them.
we might as well frankly admit that
we cannot govern ourselves and crown
king in Washington.
II have prepared my bill after study
OF the various plans proposed during
the last eight years. The measure
which | shall introduce upon the re-
convening of the Sixty sixth Congress
would establish direct primary for
| the nomination Of candidates for the
presidency and vice presidency by all
political parties.
Kelly Describes Bill
! 1T provides for nation wide pri.
mary to be held on the second Tues
! day in July of 1924 and each four
| years thereafter. In all states having
primary laws the same laws will ap-
! Ply III NlHlPS NllUOuI PRIMARY lHNS,
of which there are twelve at present.
the election laws. as to polling places.
election OF officers, etc. would be used
/ The ballot would contain columns for
| each party having polled = per cent
OF the total vote at the preceding
presidential election. with a column
also for candidates independent OF
party. The names of all presidential
and vice presidential candidates would
be printed in their respective party
columns. The voter would thus have
an opportunity TO vote for the ranhi.
date he desires, hut in only one column.
and vote in more than one column
would be thrown out.
"ThPrC is provision for n national
canvaSsing hoard. appointed by the
President and state Canvassing boards
Of three persons each appointed by the
President. These appointments would
he made upon nomination of tn" chair
men of the various national commit
toes. Nomination petitions are to hc
filed forty tiv" days before the primary
with tho national board. signed by one
half Of ! per cent of tho voters Of the
party in each Of at least twelve states.
Expenses Paid by United States
The national board will transmit
to the state boards. thirty days before
the primary, the certified lists Of
names and the state boards shall fur
niSh ballots and SuunIiCS to tho various
election officers. The returns are 10
he sent from each precinct to tho state
board. which will canvass tnc votes
and certify the return to the national
board. ON or before thp first Monday
Of August the national board will meet
aud canvass the returns. and the can
didatc rrrciving the highest number
Of votes in each party shall be the legal
nOminP" and the name printed on the
ballot as though made by party con.
VCntiOn.
"Ppnatos for fraud are fixed at $500
, and Imprisonment for one wear, and
the expenses are to be paid by tho
United States. This plan is recognition
Of political parties aS legal entities.
but that recognition has already been
granted through corrupt practices ucts
passed by Congress-
"'rho argument for its passage Is
simply that Of peoples rule. To-day
the people are compelled to give a
power Of attorney 10 certain delegates
/ without knowing what will be done,
! and are pOwPrleSs 10 Withdraw the
/ power Of attorney if lis power is abused
/ Under the plan ] propose, the pevpl-
of America will choose their President
/ instead of clcCting a body Of men to
/ choose him for them. II is placing on
a national scale the nomination of
1 President exactly aS tho Governor Of
! PCnHsy wanna is at present nominated. "