South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-07-15
WHIP Is
LOST IN PRIMARY,
WATSON ASSERTS
Official Lacks Obligation to
Organization, He Says
Capper Defends Plan.
By HARRY Is. HUNT.
l>neclnI 10 The Nrrs-Timesl

WASHINGTON. July 14-CBy y.
r. A. News Service) Just how the
party organization feels its hold on,
senator's and representatives slipping
because Of the operation OF popular
primaries was todR described by
Sen. Jim Watson OrIndiana. one of
the ola Guard engineers of the q
20. =. juggernaut
This lack Of control said Watson.
Is back Of the desire in party organi-
zsuon circles for the repeal of pri-
mary laws and a return 20 the old
convention system where the organi-
cation ruled
Under the primary system" said
I Watson. senators come here with
1 an individual mandate They do not
come here feeling they are undei
great obligations to the party. be-
cause each individual has gone out
as an individual and won his nOmi-
nation and his election.
+ So he does not come here imbued
with the idea OF teamwork. as used
/ 20 Ice the case when party obligations
sat more heavily upon the shoulders
/ of public men than they do now
Extend Primary''-Scn. Cappcr.
Extension of the primary law.
/ rather than its repeal. must be Sc
cured If popular government is 20
/ be perpetuated Sen. Arthur Capper.
( republican. Of Kansas. head of the
farm bloc and recognized as a ma
I tional progressive leader declared
today in answer 70 Sen. Watson
Views
Evidences of careful. systematic
4 propaganda to undermine public
confidence in state primary laws with
\ a view of bringing about their re
peal and a return TO the selection Of
candidates by party conventions l.
seen under the recent criticism OF
primaries by Prest Harding, Sec'y
! OF War Weeks and Sen. Watson OF
3 Indiana.
Il cannot go along with the presi-
dent. Weeks and Watson" Capper
declared Instead Of abolishing OF
limiting the primary il must be ex-
tended.
u hope TO see the day when nom
Iinations for president will be 10y pop
Iular primary. When that day comes.
I
really popular government. The
people must have more voice. not
less voice. I'm their government and
lin the selection Of men who make
land administer the laws.
National Committeeman First.
"Gne of the first steps i'm extending
1.-THE primary should be selection of
national committeeman by popular
ivote. That would give the rank and
1 file Of the parties "A voice. IL mas
none now.
''Of course the reason for the dis
satisfaction of PARTY leaders with
the primaries is not hard 10 find.
/ Results Of recent primary elections
i'm which the people have rejected
'orsaniza tion' candidates and nOmin-
lated men OF their own choice. has
upset them.
They blame the system. Yet the
fact that the primary gave the vot-
ers chance to name their own
choice instead OF having a hand
picked organization candidate forced
on them is the best possible endorse
lmeht OF the primary principle.
IF the people are not TO have a
voice i'm the nomination Of their can
didates for office. why should they
ihave a voice i'm their election?
IF popular elections are to stand.
nominations 10y primary must stand
NO other plan comes near TO pro-
viding popular government.
Kansas as Example.
Take for instance my state be-