Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1922-03-24
HARDING SPEAKS
FOR CONVENTIONS
PRESIDENT THINKS THAT THE
PRIMARY SYSTEM HAS NOT
BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
STIRS UP MUCH DISCUSSION
Many Politicians of Both Parties
Agree With His Opinion. but Rever.
sion to the Old Plan Would Be
Strongly Contested.
BY EDWARD q. CLARK

S'N''6 D. SINnN
Washington. -lresident Harding. |
recent speech to the members Of tn
republican clubs Of the District @
Columbia, made specific declarato
IN favor of Il return to the conventio
plan of making nominations for office
This means, of course, that the Pres
dent thinks the primaries have beel
more or less failure.
Some comment naturally was in
slant on the declaration of the Presl
dent, but political leaders who are in
clined to give matters study befOr,
speaking delayed the uttelance o.
their opinions on the matter
During the campaign preliminary tC
the Republican convention of 1912 the
presidential primaries came SO near tC
naming the Republican candidate In
advance that politicians and many
others were led to believe that in the
future national conventions would be
nothing more than ratiters of the PEG.
pies choice and makers Of platforms
The thought on this subject later was
proved to be in large measure fala.
cious. II Is only necessary to read the
histories of the conventions Of the
parties In 1916 and 1920 to find proof
that the primaries did not In any way
make II certain In advance who were
to be the nominees for the presidency.
IL was said at the time however, that
later on the prophecies of the year
l9l2 would be fulfilled and that the
national conventions would become
merely ratification gatherings.
Many Prefer Convention System.
There were primaries in Ohio prior
to the last convention. President
Harding made speaking campaign In
his own behalf in his own state. The
result was division Of the delegates
chosen between Harding and Wood. In
fact. Wood succeeded in capturing one
Of the delegates-ct-arge Nobody has
suggested that the Presidents animos.
lily to primaries is based in any way
on his experience in Ohio. Doubtless
II Is based on real belief that the PR.
maries have been failure. 1t has
been known to men who are not presi.
dents that many Republican and Dem.
ocratic politicians throughout the
country have favored for long time
return to the convention system.
There will be fight on this matter,
however, If it is made an issue in the
coming political campaign.
Opinion here is that the Presidents
affection for the convention system
means that no effort is likely to be
made for some time at any rate, to
secure federal legislation providing
for the nomination of candidates for
President and vice president by direct
vote. Thus far this has been a state
matter and not federal matter.
1t is as true today as ii was two
years ago, when certain senator's were
stirring up trouble for some of the
candidates for TIE presidential n0m.-
nation, that sentiment exists In coG.
gress in favor Of national primaries
under federal direction. This seutl.
ment dwells m..nly with the progress.
sives and with the So-called radicals
In congress, but ii also has lodging In .
the breasts Of some few Of the repre- +
and senators who are called +
not to say reaction |
aries.
Proeressives for Primaries
Last year there were attempts made
In several states Of the Union TO do .
away with the primary system. In In
diana there was hard fight to secure
the repeal Of the primary laws. 1t was
sharply intlmated ut the time by few
men that the Indiana attempt was In
behalf of the political fortunes of a
certain man who soon was to measure
his popularity in the primaries against
an admittedly strong opponent. This
L
primary law was not repealed.
Little or no success met the de-
hands to repeal state primary legls.
alton elsewhere. II President Har.
ling actually will press the matter It
5 probable that repeating propositions
will find their way into the legislatures
If virtually all the Northern states
when next they meet. This does not
mean, by long shot, however, that
he repeal attempts will be success
'ul.
Next year about thrty-slx state
legislatures will be In session. A year
s long time, and there will be am
Die opportunity to determine during
he months If there Is genuine senti-
nent In favor of the old convention
ystem. Under the convention meth
IDS party responsibility Is estab-
lshed. Under the primary methods
he peoples responsibility is estab.
lshed. The conservatives. like Mr..
prefer party responsibility.
Whatever else the President has &c.
omplished by his pronouncement IN
ayor Of conventions as opposed to pr-
naries, he certainly has given the
politicians something to talk about. II
5 thing for the politicians to talk
bout and for the people to thiak
bout. What the outcome of their
linking will be is In doubt. Il
To Scrap Island Defenses. I,
Pressure for reduction of the
trength Of the army, and for the