South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-01-18
BEVERIDGE GIVES
ADDRESS HERE IN
PRIMARY DEFENSE
Declares to Yield to 0pposi-
ton Would be Dis
honorable.

1--WE cannot yield without dis
honor. neither can we com promise
tn the conflict for the primary,
said Ex-Sen. Albert j. Beverage in
an eloquent address 10 members OF
the Chamber Of Commerce and the
League Of Women voters at the
Chambers luncheon Monday noon.
In explanation. Mr. Beverage said.
with as who support the primary
and oppose the convention the con-
hict Us a matter Of principle first
OF ALL AS a secondary consideration.
it IS also good public policy and
good party policy.
If those who have planned to
repeal the primary and restore the
convention feel that their project is
a matter OF mere policy and not a
matter OF principle. they can. in
good conscience, abandon or post
pOne their purpose. indeed it is their
duty % do so If they conclude that
persistence I'm their attempt viii
hurt their party"
4 large audience Of both men and
women ceard the remarks OF Mr..
Beverage Monday noon. Mr. Bever-
idEe will speak at the High school
auditorium 10 the public under the
auspices of the League Of Women
Voters. on the subject. John Mar
shall and the Constitution"
Pressed by Politicians.
In part the address OF AIr. Bever-
idge follows:
Since the plan 20 abolish the
nominating primary and restore the
nominating convention was made,
and is pressed only by very small
group Of practical politicians In
both political parties, and since that
reactionary maneuver against popu-
lar representative government would
not have the slightest chance Of sue
cess or even be undertaken without
the support OF and management by
these professional party manipula-
tors. and since these small but pow
erful cliques i'm both partie5-fOr
everybody knows that they are work
ing together as they always do fl
matters Of this kind-wil be re-
sponsible for the death of the prim-
afy. If they should succeed i'm killing
il- since all this IS obvious. 1t H. Tie
duty Of the rams and file OF bC,l
parties-and especially the duty ~
the women voters of both parties
20 ask their party bosses these Ques-
tons.
what win be the effect upon the
party, if you put through your
scheme2
"'Wm the destruction. by boss
controlled party action. of the direct
nominating primary, and the restora-
tion Of the indirect nominating con
vention. gain a single vote for the
party at the next election?
IF not. viii the destruction by
bOss-contrOlled party action. of the
direct nominating primary and the
restoration OF the indirect nominal
ing convention, lose votes from the
party al the next election
III so, are the managers of
either party certain Of party MAJ
jority at the next election. big
enough to overcome this Joss of
votes2'
Must Admit No Gain.
If the managers Of both parties
can be made 10 answer these plain
and pertinent party Questious-and
they must and viii be made 20 an
swer them-they viii have TO say
and viii say:
First: We admit that the de-
struCtiOn OF the primary and res
toraton of the convention will not
gain a single vote for the party re-
sIonsible for such action.
Second. We admit that the de-
strucdon of the primary and restor-
alton of the convention viii lose
votes from the party responsible fOI
such actlOn-lOse thousands of votes
at the very least. perhaps tens of
thousands OF votes.
Third. We admit that we are
not certain of "a party majority al
the next election big enough 90
overcome this loss Of votes on the
contrary, 1t Looks 90 us now as ii
the next election will be very close
perhaps doubtful We shall of
course. loudly assert that each IF
our respective parties lis sure 90 win
easily and Overwhelmingly as poll
ucal generals always do assert: but
every man OF us I'm each party clique
knows the contrary 20 be true
fact that we frankly face when con
ferrinE with one another iu our re-
speCtive inner party consultations
Hold Leaders Responsible
Since 10 IS the right and duty Of
the ordinary hers-aud csDec-
ial'y the women members=of each
political party. Co ask their leaders
these three questions. and since the
leaders OF both parties must make
these three answers. it follows that
Il is the right and duty OF the
members or each Iarty who wish
party success. 10 hold those party
leaders or managers who are seeking
60 destroy the primary. sternly re-
sponsible for the effect of their ac-
ton on the fortunes of their re-
spective parties.
"Of course this very practical
party consideration ought not deter
the managers Of either party from
trying 20 destroy the primary and
restore the convention. IL they feel
that they are right-if they feel
that the principle OF nominating