Evening star., 1921-06-05

publican national convention at
Chicago, and the democratic ma
tional convention at San Fran
cisco. Investigation Of the cam
paign expenditures Of the various
presidential candidates was sub
i. sequently made by the Senate
committee on privileges and cleo
tions through "a subcommittee.
composed Of Senator Kenyon OF
Iowa.. chairman, and Senators
Pomerene. Reed. Edge and spen-
GER This subcommittee reported
expenditures. for the leading cam
didates as follows:
For Gen. Leonard Wood. -. 81. 773 1903
. For Gov. LOwden. 414.oot
For Senator johnson l14,5SS
For Herbert Hoover ........ 173.5a2
There was no suggestion that
these sums were illegally or i'm
properly expended I refer to
j.. them because they AFFORD addi-
tional evidence to that afforded by
the Newberry case that another OF
our upiift movements in Ameri-
can life seems to have gone
astray.
The preferential primary cost
ing as much as it does falls to
impress mo as accomplishing the
purpose for which it was intend
ed, namely, the publication OF
party politics and the elimination
OF the "boss." 1t would i'll be-
come me to comment upon the
merits Of men who have won out
through the preferential primary.
but. as an oficeholder in Indiana.
who was nominated in an old
style delegate convention. ] am
bold enough to express a doubt
as to the success Of our new po-
litical filtration plant.
feel toward 1t very much as
the man who left one church and
Joined another. Asked how he
liked his new church. he said it
was Just as good as the old one
and a little cheaper. Looking at
the primary and the convention
and seeing them both in actual
operation. 1 venture the opinion
that the convention is Just as
good as the primary and l know
it il much less expensive. When
the convention system was in
vogue no ono ever dreamed of
such expenditures Of money as
have been reported under the new
primaries.
I do not stop to recount the
freak results of the modern sys-
tem-how men who never exist
ed. insane men and even GRIM
inals have been nominated. The
marvellous work of the primary
was never equaled by the conven-
yention, even in its palmy days
when half the delegates carried
bungstoppers in their hip pockets.
cannot bring myself to the point
of fayoring the proposed amend
ment to the Constitution offered
BY Senator johnson since the su-
preme Court has by its decision in
the Newberry case killed the cor
rupt practices act. The California
senator would extend the prefer
entail primary even to the presi-
dency and would convert national
conventions into ratifying bodies,
devoid of deliberations save in
the matter Of adopting platforms
of principles.
a Ia s,*.* i
1t may be that 1 prefer the eonven
ton system for reasons similar to tn
one that the northern negro CAV
for voting the democratic ticke
Having sold his vote first to the re
nublicans for ten dollars and then
the democrats for ave dollars. b
voted with the democrats because,
he said, they were the lesser corrupt
er." The preferential primary vii
to NV mind, close the door to prefer
ment against all except those WI
are rich enough to stand great e1
pense and scoundrels- who are viii
ing to be syndicAted and owned. Tn
limits oface-seeking in the wron
way.
AS q matter OF fact, omce-Seek KIN
should not be limited at all; It shoul
be extended to every one. Why ca
a man q public servant when ONO
has been purchased for him by him
self or his friends? II I buy a ca
it is mine-not the publfc's-. Thel
is no difference between ownershi
Of a .fiivver' and an office. If they /
obtained in the same way.
Instead of extending the primar
it would be well to constrict it
dread and fear of the boss" exist
primaries may be held for the selet
ton Of delegates, but let them go
a convention resolved to bestow q
honor on a worthy citizen. not to er
gage in the purchase Of q prize pumI
kin. The way to uplift politics
for the uplifter to uplift himself, eev
as the streets Of Jerusalem are keI
clean by every man sweeping his 'ow
door yard.
Copyright, 1921. by Thomas R. Marshall.)