South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-01-19
JANUARY 10. 1921.
WOMEN AND THE PRIMARIES.

Most OF Us never thought of in that light but II
1t is true az limited by former Sen. Albert J.
Beverage IN his address before the Chamber cf
Commerce, that opponents Of the primary system OF
nominating candidates for Offices are really aiming
their blow at the voters. it is time 20
look NJ and take notice. The former senator well
points OUT. at least, how to the old conven-
ton system. INDUCED in the old way would virtual
y disfranchise the women as to the matter of NOM
nations, which IS exactly the place if anywhere
that the women votes are needed. No respectable
woman would dare attend one Of the oId-time party
caucuses.
Maybe that is what the party manipulators want
and there can be no question but what they want
Il II at all convinced that the feminine vote at the
primary is likely to set their manipulations at
naught. Then they planning to get in their
work before the thing goes far. Perhaps there
fore It Is quite suggested that the revived do
mand FOR return TO the political conventions as a
means OF nominating party tickets, is due somewhat
10 the belief the Of party maniruators that
the people have forgotten the evils old con
vention system and that here in the midst of this
of unrest and reaction is a good time 10 recap
ture their old control
No question about tt. The party primary theoret-
ically at least infinitely superior TO the old con-
vention and II it has worked out in practice
is the fault Of the people and not of the system
and Furthermore. if the people are at fault viii
the convention system cure that fsultiness? Under
the old convention system. according TO Nj
Beverage, of the people as they turn
ed out at the caucuses, took hand in nominating
party tickets, and that very indirectly Under the
primary system IS percent have taken a direct hand
in the nOminations-some Progress toward popular
government TO say the least. Everybody knows the
quality Of that percent that to attend the
party csucuses and help put over the machine slate.
first for delegates to the conventlons-and then
how the delegates manipulated and so on up
The people under the primary, set just the kind
of government and officials that they deserve and
no better II you believe in majority rule that il
enough. We know too that under minority rule that
Of the convention system and machine manipulation
conditions weren't any better. The only instance we
have ever had throughout the United States to CON-
pare Tor instant with the corruption OF the old
days Of Clark Daily. Gas" AddicSs Matthew
Stanley Quay and Tom Plat Is the recent instance
Il Truman H. Newberry of Michigan. That consti-
tutes very good beginning and unless the United
States supreme court finds in H. and reverses
The conviction, Il ought to serve as good warning.
Whatever one may have been brought 20 think of
the desirabity OF returning 10 the conventions.
evident from Mr.. Beverldges address that there 4
n real live opposition with plenty argument
against such reaction and THAI it IS a matter deserv-
ms OF serious thought-by the women especially.
whom far nominations are concerned, II would
virtually distranchise.