The New York herald., 1922-06-17
WEEKS DRAWS FIRE
FROM BOTH PARTIES
Speech Opposing Direct Pri-
mary System Attacked in
Two Houses.
NORRIS ASSAILS HARDING
Secretary Denies President
Had Anything to Do With
His Remarks.

Special Dispatch to THE NEW York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. c., june 49,
Secretary Of War Weekss address at
Cleveland, assailing the direct primary
system. was accepted to-day by liberal
Republicans in Senate and House as a
challenge from the regular" element OF
the party. Senator Norris (Neb.) at
tackled Mr.. Weeks for opposing the pri-
mary. and Representative Tincher
(Kan). another Republican, did the
same in the House.
Senator Caraway (Ark.), Democrat. In
the Senate, and Representative Garner
(Texas), Democrat. in the House, Joined
with their Republican associates il. at
tacking Mr.. Weekss views. They also
accused Congress of yielding to admin
istrative domination. Wayne B. Wheeler
of the Anti-SalOon League, attacked the
Secretarys position on prohibition.
On being informed Of these criticizms
Secretary Weeks said that he was pre-
pared for just such attacks when he de-
livered the address. He took strong
exception, however, to the name of
President Harding being coupled with
his name in connection with the remarks
he had made on the primary system and
on the trend toward social democracy"
THE President did not have the least
idea of what i was going to say in my
address. 1 did not consult him or dis
cuss 1t with him. I stated at the out
set that l was speaking as a citizen
and / figure that l have still some
privileges as a citizen. The criticism
from Senator Norris and others / fully
expected" Mr.. Weeks said.
The Secretary repeated his belief that
the great weakness of the primary sys-
tenn is that the people cannot keep in
formed of or take the time to find
suitability for public office.
Senator Norris assumed that the po-
sition taken by Secretary Weeks voiced
the sentiments of the Administration.
and he made 1t clear that If the Ad-
ministration proposes to make aboli-
ton of the primary an issue between
the two elements of, the Republican
party his group is prepared to accept
the challenge.
The Nebraska Senator was especially
caustic in his reference to President
Harding He referred to his own elec-
ton under the primary system and ad-
mitted that he would naturally be ex-
pected to be prejudiced in its favor.
On the other hand Ne said. when Presi-
dent Harding was a candidate for the
Republican Presidential nomination he
did not get to first base in those
States which have Presidential pri-
mares.
Dwelling upon the reference made by
Secretary Weeks to the low level to
which Congress has fallen, Senator Nor
ris said it was the fault of Congress
itself
During the Wilson Administration"
he said, I'VE referred to the Democratic
side as a rubber stamp. 1t was true,
but the situation is reversed now. We
are the rubber stamps. The Admins
tration has just told us to pass ship
subsidy bill and 1 wonder how many
will have the courage to think inde-
pendently."
In the House, Representative Garner
chided the Republicans along the same
line. charging they would not have the
courage to resist the Executive on the
ship subsidy bill, and intimating that the
Secretary of War was justified in as
Stunning Congress had deteriorated.