Arizona republican., 1922-06-06
The Direct Primary

The address of Representative James A. Freaf Oh
Wisconsin on the direct primary, and which appears
in the Congressional Record of May II is going to
be widely quoted in the Democratic primary cam
pagn 1t has been already published in two journals
which are opposing the proposed constitutional
amendment strike from the constitution all ref
erence to the primary and leave to the legislature
and the people the power to repeal or amend or
otherwise deal or neglect to deal with the present
direct primary law.
We have taken pains to say that this is matter
of which much will be heard in the Democratic pri-
mary 1t is something of concern to the Repub-
licans and affects them only it stirs their sym
pathy with their Democratic brethren of both fac
TONS who seem to be greatly troubled. 1t is mighty
rd-hearted and unusual Republican who is proof
against the emotion Of sympathy.
The Arizona direct primary is purely demo-
cratic institution. whether you have in mind democ-
racy as an American political party, the name OF
a form of government It adopted by the DEM
ocratic party, used by the Democratic party ana
praised and cursed by the Democratic party. Ihe
Republicans have complied with the law only as
formality and some of them have been tempted by
it to commit perjury in mild form But the law has
never affected the fortunes of the Republican party
in Arizona even in the slightest degree
Republicans therefore feel little interest in Mr.
Frears discussion of the direct primary so that they
can weigh inpartially the arguments he offers in
support of it. They therefore see that there
may be good arguments for and against 1t as there
may be and against every imperfect institution
The debate less the merits of the
primary than upon its demerits compared with
those of the old convention system which it was in
tended to displace. The latter admittedly bad
and once we thought wholly SO, with redeeming
quality The primary, though, has been shown to
possess certain imperfections and unavoidably
coY,nare them with those of the old system.
Mr. Trear believes the popular primary is bull
wark against special privilege which used to control
conventions We will admit. that it is easier to
control a convention than it the undrected popu
lar mind which is apt to be incapable of self
control and proceeds largely by chance But before
the direct primary made its appearance in the coun
try the people awakened by the excesses of special
privilege had placed check upon it by closer
watch upon congressman and elected officers gem
orally.
The railroads had been the chief manipulators
of conventions but before the Of the direct pr-
mary the railroads found themselves under more
rigid control than they have been within the last
ten years
Mr.. Frear properly answers the argument
against the primary that half the people do not take
part in it, by saying that it is ten times repre-
the people than the old convention system
when hardly five per cent of the people took part
in the caucus which led up to the convention.
But there is argument against the primary
which Mr. does not touch the effect Of it to
date The first fruits of the primary not prom
ising and we regret to say that in nearly dozen
years there no improvement of the variety
nediocrity of elected officials lowering OF the
level of ability. There in the first place tri-
umph of the demagogue. usually discredted and
kicked out rejected member of his party His