Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-10-09
DIRECT PRIMARIES.

= We have repeatedly stated it judgment
that direct primaries not a cure-all Eternal
vigilance is the price of liberty" Vigilance, and
that alone can keep the power in the hands of the
people Usurpation of power by some one follows
indifference the part of the public as inevitably
night follows the day.
In truth, the slumbering state of the public mind
upon questions of state administration. superndueed
by the sleeping potion administered by controlled
press, has been responsible for the power in New
Mexico having passed into the hands of the few who
were alert to the selfish possibilities such control
held for them A people awake, aroused be
depended upon to fight for the retention or return
Of its liberties
But under the mob-ca ana convention system
which has always been in vogue in New Mexico, to
serve the convenience of the bosses, it requires
bitter battle the people to repossess themselves
of their government The people must be stirred to
the beat mutiny against conditions or nothing can
be accomplished. Any thoughtful person can verify
this statement out of the facts surrounding the pres
ent state of affairs
Under the present system men and women are
compelled desert their party and join the oppos-
tion that the power of the bosses and the special
interests may be broken Even then there is serious
danger that fight will not accomplish it for,
with their candidates defeated and their assump-
tons repudiated they still retain control of the ma
chinery of the party. Thus they still have the frame
work upon which to rebuild their wrecked play
house
Direct primaries properly enacted into law, al
ways provide the necessary machinery for the people
to take charge of their government. Periods of re-
taxation in vigilance will come and few men will
abuse the excessive power they have acquired under
n primary system under our present method. But
the machinery is there, when abuses become Suffi-
GENTLY unbearable to arouse the public, with which
the people may quietly and effectively take charge
and bring about change. This can be done within
he a
clean it up. is gone.
Both Judge Mechem and Judge Hanna say they
for a statewide primary. Mechem says che be-
licves in it,. Hanna says Eve must have it." Quite
difference in the attitude of the two candidates
we opine
For Mechem to fight for an effective direct pri-
mary law would, if he successful. break the
power the party of Bursum, Hawkins, Fall,
Sully and their kind, who nominated and now
actively supporting him. What is the probability of
n nice, pliabe little man like Judge MeChem joining
in life-and-dcath struggle with these stalwart de-
ermined political giants who everything selfish
TO lose by the enactment of primary law which has
teeth in it?
If Il primary law is enacted by the republicans
1t will be written by these mon and made to suit
their purposes. 1t will be perfectly nnocuous. The
letter of the republican platform will be kept but
the spirit of a primary system will not animate the
law.
Hanna and is the choice of the rank and file
of his party a candidate He has nothing to fear
politically from law which puts the power to nom
mate party candidates into the hands of the rank
and file of the party. He has everything to gain by
taking the power away from the few who drove him
out of the republican party and have controlled the
state. i~
~ Under present conditions there is nothing for
fght-thnking republicans, who love their party, to
do but to support Hanna, procure an adequate pri-
mary law and then their places in the party,
with control in the hands of the people
None need fear his future in the party. Too
many are leaving temporarily this fall. They must
have all back in order to win in the future. Any
way, cowardice and self-interest is excuse for
failing to do plain duty.
Vote for the national republican ticket but for
the state democratic ticket and legislative candidates.