Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-01-17

election big enough to overcome this loss
Of votes7
IF the managers of both parties can
be made to answer these plain and peril
nent party questions-and they must and
will be made to answer them-they will
have to say and will say that;
81. We admit that the destruction
Of the primary and restoration Of the
convention will not gain a single vote
for the party responsible for such &C
ton.
"'2. We admit that the destruction OF
the primary and restoration OF the con-
vention will lose votes from the party
responsible for such action-lose thou
sands Of votes at the very least, perhaps
tens Of thousands Of votes.
"tS We admit that we are not GER
tain to overcome this loss OF votes. On
the contrary, it looks TO us now as II the
next election Will be very close. perhaps
doubtful. We shall, Of course. loudly as
sert that each OF our respective parties
is sure to win easily aud Overwhelm-
ingly, as political generals always DO
assert; but every man Of us In each
party clique knows the contrary to be
true-a fact that we frankly face when
comforting with one another in our re-
spective inner party consultations
"since It is the right and duty Of the
ordinary mem bers-and especially the
women mem bers-of each political party
TO ask their leaders these three ques-
lions, and since the leaders Of both par
ties must make these three answers, II
follows that It is the right and duty OF
the members of each party who wish
party success to hold those party leaders
or managers who are seeking to destroy
A. ~
effect Of their action on the fortunes OF
their respective parties"
Mr.. Beveridge explained that practi-
cal party considerations ought not TO
deter managers Of either party from try
ing to destroy the primary and restore
the convention. If they feel that they
are right
But If the leaders and managers OF
both parties look upon the repeal OF the
primary and the restoration of the con
vention, not us a matter of principle,
but rather as a matter OF expediency,
then they ought to abandon their project
II they find It unacceptable to any CON
siderable number Of their party voters"
Mr. Beveridge continued
Nobody blames ana everybody APP
plauds the political leader who shows
such sagacity: but everybody condemns
and nobody praises the politician who
insists on jamming through mere
policy which does not involve a prin-
cip!e after it becomes plain that it is
unwise. as a practical matter, to press
such a policy.
with us, however, who support the
primary and oppose the convention the
conflict is a matter Of principle first of
all. although, as a secondary cOnsidera-
ton, it Is also a matter OF good public
policy and good party policy. There
fore. we cannot yield without dishonor;
neither can we compromise
THE chief shortcoming Of the present
law is that It does not go far enough;
it arbitrarily directs that certain nom
nations shall be made by the party
voters at the polls, but that certain other
nominations OF exactly the same kind
shall be made by delegates I'm conventions.
For example, there is not the least differ
ence in kind between the offices OF Gov
ernor and Secretary of State or State
Auditor-all belong to the same class;
yet the former is nominated blythe party
voters at primaries and the latter by
delegates in convention. On principle.
all should be nominated by the same
method.
The same confusion of policy and
| principle is shown in the plan now urged
upon the Legislattfae, to nominatecounty
officers by direct prima ries and oil high
er officers by convention. One principle
is applied to the nomination Of local ofYi-
Gals and an antagonistic principle Is
applied to the nomination OF all other
officials.
"There is only one class of officials so
unlike all others that they might be
excepted from the principle of the pri-
roaap he fr1dUas oP oIw. courfQ
Judges have to do only with the inter
probation of the constitution and laws
and the administration of justice. They
are, or should be, men of learning, with
peculiar qualities Of mind and tempera-
ment-they are or should be specialists
in the best sense OF that term. Ages of
experience have demonstrated that they
should be made as Independent as pos
sible.
"At Indianapolis last Friday point
ed out, before large assemblage Of
women voters, the essential difference be-
tween the indirect nominating delegate
convention and the direct nominating
| popular primary-the essential purity of
the primary and the essential corrup-
ton of the convention under existing
economic and political conditions.
ALREADY 1t is clear that public senti-
ment In both parties strongly supports
the direct nominating primary and OPP
poses the indirect nominating conven-
ton; that this solid public opinion is
not the result of temporary emotion or
fieeting irritation, but, on the contrary,
is a final and permanent popular Judg
ment formed after long years of expert
ence and discussion; that this mature
and lasting popular conclusion is a well
marked stage in the regular and en-
during development Of popular repre-
! sentative government; that it denotes the
settled and upshakable determination of
the people to make their public officials
representative of those who elect them
and to render as innocuous as possible
the professional party manipulators who,
through the convention system, were
able to and did control political parties
to the injury of the public interest and
the disgrace of our glorious American
institutions OF orderly freedom -
Mr.. Beveridge will address a joint
meeting Of the Bar Association, business
organizations and women's clubs on
THE National Constitution as Inter
preted by Chief Justice Marshall" here
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