The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-05-10
pROVERBIAL BLIND MEN.

pROVERBIAL BLIND MEN.
Politicians Of a certain type are provorblaily
blind men. u seems to bo a part OF their
philosophy 20 dodge issues and trim on pub
lie questions until they arc in a desperate
situation. then join an issue on terms that
forcdoom them 70 defeat
This proncnca of politicians is Impressed
on ug anew as read Of the reaction in
Washington 10 the Bevcridge victory In In
d.nna. MIR Robort Small, a syndicate writer.
quotes this particular type Of politician as
saying Of tho Beveridge Victory:
There IL no purpose on tho part ot the
ontl-prlmary senator's representative and
administration officials In Washlngton 10
rob Mr., Boveridge OF any OF tho glory o,
his splendid victory They cannot refrain
from pointing out however. that under
convention system. Mr. New. with all OF
the Influence and prestige Of tho national
administration. as we'll az tho state organ
ixatlon behind him, would have had no
difficulty whatever in obtaining renomlna-
tlon.
1sn't that dcliclouely absurd2 In n day
then when the primary is rapidly falling into
dsestecm here are gentlemen actually reviv-
Ing admiration for It by using arguments
which they design TO increase IT, dlstressl
Tho Beycrdge victory in Indiana has done
moro TO strengthen confidence in tho ultimate
Of tho primary system than anything which
has taken place In years
In this case we see an intelligent reaponse
10 n clean-cut intelligent appeal Surely n
cannot he contended that n convention could
have rendered n better verdict. or course Bev-
eridgo would have had no chance
with oil tho influence prestige. etc,
OF national administration launched
against him had he been compelled 10 plead
before convention OF court satellites Tho
does that fact Lesson tho opprobrum that
wonld fan against any national administration
seeking to dictate who the people or the state
should elect? Docs It lesson tho improprietv
OF any national organization or authority
seeking to impose one OF its own selection
upon the people OF sovereign state?
We think not. When the troubles with tbo
primary system are carefully anoIvzcd ,,o
suspect that n good many OF us will find tina,
what we have attributed to he faults OF tho
law were nothing but faults OF tho politicians
and candidates. Men have been defeated in
the primaries and other men have been vic
torlous solely because OF a predilection for
lodging issues and evadlng direct rcspons,-
dldntes announced themselves on a platform
OF open covenants openly arrived at, then
stepped forward and presented their CAUSE
In squGre-cut manner to the voters Raw
eridge did, and he won. Judge Frank Irvine
ala In the Thirty seventh New York, and he
cut n republican majority OF 20 900 TO less
'hat 3ooo-camc 80 near winning that the
moral effect OF his defeat remains n substan-
tial success.
Mr. New II appears, made his race on his
regularity and his friendship for the admins.
trahon' That Is not good cause to take
before the American people. 1t would havs
constituted a sufficient platform 10 have earned
instant recognition In n convention; but II "a
sadly lacking In popular appeal II Ia be-
cause senators were too frequently seleoted
for such reasons that the primary came 7,
viii never be repealed by the people for arv
such cause.
until 1t has been clearly shown that the
people have refused recognition to n rondi.
date standing for right principles and with
suttc!ent courage to meet every iasue in tho
open, the primary system will remain on tha
statute books OF tho various states; and Il
VIII gain In strength. We say again. the re-
suit OF the BeverIdge campaign has done mpcb
TO strengthen the primary law in the cs,lra .
tion OF observing men,