The Washington herald., 1922-07-08
COP. CHIEFS FEAR
PARTY DISCORD IN
PRIMARIES DRIVE
National Committee May
Remain Neutral for F.,
Sake of Harmony.
JOHNSON AROUSED
Chairman Hull Wants Demo.
Gratis to Favor Present
System.

The sudden and concerted drive
begun against the direct primary
system gives every assurance OF
becoming a controversial issue in
both major parties.
Conversations with spokesmen
for the Republican National Com
mittee reveal real concern over the
anti-primary propaganda develop
ing They insist that whatever the
nature of the campaign and what
ever the source. those sponsoring
IL are speaking as individuals and
not for the party itself.
The Republican National Com
mittee. therefore will not enter
into the question in such fashion
as to either create friction within
its own ranks or make it appear
that il supports either side Of tho
question as a policy.
Wants Democrats to Favor Primary.
But while there also is a strong
element among the sO-called ''prac-
ucal politicians" of the Demo-
cratic party. as desirous as the
like element within the Republican
party for abolition of the direct
primary system. Chairman Hull. of
the Democratic National Commit
tee. plans to put his party on rec
ord as favoring the primary. A
statement by Hull now, progressive
Democrats declare. would accom-
pliSh two ends:
First. il would nail any organized
attempt by Democratic standpatters
to fall in with the movement
started in the Republican camp for
ridding politics Of the primary
system. and,
Second. il would place the Demo-
cratic party in the position of
Selling the opening made by anti
primary Republicans for putting
the primary forward as a new issue
before the people. Progressive
Democrats, like progressive Repub-
licans. feel that the people gen.
orally strongly favor continuance
OF the primary system.
PrOEresSIVes Fight PIan.
While the Republican Nationa,
Committee will remain silent. Ieav-
irS disposition of the primary issue
10 the several States. progressive
elements within that party will con-
tinue 10 fight against the aEti-pri-
mary movement Senator johnson,
of California. one Of the most ac-
tive eXponents of the primary sys-
TEN. sees in the situation ground.
for warning the country against the
eHort by regular politicians" to
"aTrogate to themselves" the power
that belongs to the people.
The direct primary. of course. Is
thorn in the side of the regular
politician" Johnson declared. 1T
takes from him the power he once
had and lodge. it with the people.
Since its adoption there have al
ways been attacks upon it from
those who question the right of the
people to govern themselves: and
these attacks at present apparently
have become more virulent and per-
haps are organized.
Plays Convention system
The direct primary presents the
cver-CldShinS two philoSophies or
Eovernment-that which does not he
lieve in the people and that which has
an abiding optimism in the peoDIe
II Il ridiculous that if our people
have the ability and the discrimiTa-
ti"n TO elect. they have not the like
ability and discrimination to select
their candidates. To say that a
chosen few alone may presert can
didates and that all the rest are
unfit to do so is to deny democracy
itself.
There may be ills attending the
dlrect primary system. but they fade
into iLsignificance beside the
Of h,
ton system And after all it is
solely question between those who
arrogate to themselves the right to
govern all the rest of US. and the
right OF all the rest of US to GOV
err. ourselves.
The people should be on guard
10 prevent any present endeayor
either to discredit the direct nri-
mary or to repeal it"