Arizona republican., 1922-01-11
a pana.rou. pemoer..le Esperimen.

We fear that the move of democratic friends
to crcumvent primary is going to precipitate
1Hn into lot Of trouble. The only way to meet an
N 10 20 straight against it. When try to side
Nn AR are always in danger OF stepping smack
ihto Mmekhing direct course in politics as
vel s u n3egything else always carries farther
thaA ipus or oblique course.
~SIo attenaps should be made" said Chairman Nc
Gala at tH nsaS.ing of the central committee Mon
day ito dsl& ne requirements OF primary
law. The iav upon statutes and its provisions
must be respected"
What in the name of the altitudinous heavens
then was the purpose that meeting If it was not to
destroy the effect Of the primary law? What else
was talked about in the meeting but the evil which
the primary law had brought upon the Democratic
party in the state, for setting the proyi
sions Of the law at naught? What other purpose
could there be in the creation OF advisory
ference" than the selection of ticket by small and
compact organization against which the unorganized
mass of Democrats shall beat in vain?
The ticket which 1t is proposed shall be advised"
by such conference be only preferred ticket
which will receive the solid support of the ring"
while the strength OF the masses will be divided
among the myriad OF aspiring candidates outside the
ring" We are not using the word ring" here in its
usually opprobrious sense. We by it group of
kentlemen (and ladies now working under ladies
and gentlemen's agreement, and who know what they
want.
We are far from defending the primary law. 1t
was conceived in misunderstanding One OF its par
ents was dark design. 1t had two classes of advo-
Gates. One believed in ideal electorate composed
pf honest intelligent and always alert voters who
could be counted upon always do the right thing
rhe whole system of popular government, the in
tative the referendum and the recall rests on that
theory, which it is generally admitted now is not
condition and is not likely be- long in advance Of
the millennium when we shall need elections,
candidates, no officers; when shall all be self
rulers with no made laws, all living together in
perfect and beautiful state Of anarchy.
But the notion Of the primary and popular gov
ernment did not originate with the idealists The
history Of it shows that it planted in them by
ected or discarded politicians who in the system
means Of destroying government by party. They
did not first openly the destruction of party
10 which the promoters realized there great
deal of popular loyalty which must not be rudely
shaken. Therefore the primary was called party
primary Later though where the system once estab-
shed persisted. that pretense was thrown off and
non -partisanism was boldly set up.
We do not think that the radical leaders in our
constitutional convention deceived or deceived
themselves the realization Of the hopes of the
dealists they miscalculated the effect Of popu-
lar rule upon the democratic party. It only served
for the interests Of clique within the party but
meanwhile it was eating into the of the party
For demagogic purpose there must not be too many
candidates and not than one clique within a
party.
The party now to rid itself Of the primary has
gone about it in the most unsklful, impoiitic way
There was resentment against the old convention
xvStem which was manipulated in the interest of the
few But then the people had at least nominay, rep
resentaton in the convention They had chance tc
vote in the caucuses the old so-called primary
And sometimes when they aroused they made
themselves felt and controlled the nominating con
venhons Anyway, the candidates chosen either b!
the ring in conventions by the aroused popuac
usually had clear and decisive majorities within
their parties whereas under the present system, tn
nominee is nearly always the product Of minority.
How much more bitterly will the people resen
the taking away from them of this power, not by
convention in which they have representation but b.
q conference in which they have no part which vii
name ticket proposed by small handful of leaders
the directors of a committee which though elected b
the democratic voters was not elected for tn
usurpation of any such power
The direct primary has not hurt the repubhca
nsrtv in Arizona 1t never hurts the weaker part!
-nat marty seldom has feuds over candidates. Us
arIv its primaries are empty formalities productiv
If no bitterness It's candidates generally chosel
w rather drafted" from among reluctant citizen
i in the dominant party that the disintegratn
Feet is felt. 1t almost invariably changed tn
,.tfical complexion of states where it has secured
focthod.
So the democrats of Arizona had good reason
+, rid themselves of il. but they have gone abol
The wrong way and disingenuously. Pretendir
,,eserye it's sacred FORM they propose to nullify i
snbsttute for the rule of the majority the seer
.ots or the edicts secretly made. of an ogarch
when democrat has been deprived by majo
Of his inherent right to run for office he must
,l,,rissive and his friends always accept that fu
r,t when he has been barred by smah secret
responsible conclaye calling itSeH party COME
- .,dyicev is a sentence to extinction, bo