Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-12-07
Radicals to Fight
Income SurtQr Cut
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the Kansas State Utilities Commission,
urging them to vote against the con-
frmaton Of Butler on the ground that
he is u railroad lawyer.
Mr.. Butler represented n group Of
railroad ds in the railroad valuation
cases before the Interstate Commerce
Commission. And the word railroad
now stirs the West as 1t did in the days
before 1912. In particular, the farm.
ers have been led to believe that the
valuation Of railroad property, so fur
as IL hus been determined under the
auspices Of the Interstate Commerce
Commission, Is excessive and is one oh.
stacle to lower rates.
The opposition to Mr.. Butler will not
be strong enough to defeat him, if 1t
ever comes to vote. The main object
of it is TO raise an issue in the West
against President Harding which vl!l
be- effective when nominations are to
be made in 1928. The struggle Of the
Progressives, at least Of the Republican
Pr0gressives. is for the control of the
Republican Party two years from now.
One important step in it will l." the
conference of Governors which it is
proposed to hold in Chicago next Janu-
uary for the purpose of discussing the
further extension Of the presidential
primary system.
A number of States now name their
choices for the presidential nomination
by direct vote. And it is felt that if
half dozen more could he added to
the list, the whole situation with re-
spert to making nominations would be
changed. so that the expression Of the
voters in these primaries would be
ikal IN in nrfv
tions.
The time is favorable. the Progress
sives. think, to further extension ol
pealed the primary laws last winter and
there has been popular reaction
against the repealers in every instance.
Borah for Direct Primaries
Senator Borah made fight to re-
store the primaries in Idaho by support.
ing candidates for the Legislature with
out regard 70 party who were pledged to
re-enact the primary law. IIo was sue.
cessful in securing the election of
legislature that is in favor Of direct
primaries.
In Nebraska the Legislature referred
to the people the question OF repenling
tho primary law and the proposal to
return to the convention system was
beaten > to !.
According to Senator Calder. the
victory of Governor Smith in New York
was victory for the direct primary
system. New York. under Governor
Miller, returned to the convention sys.
tenn. Governor Smith is pledged to
direct primaries. and although ma
jority of the Legislature is Republican,
it, too. is said to favor rcadoption of
the direct system.
Senator Borah advocates the adop.
tion Of "A national presidential primary
system. He has been studying the
Supreme Court decisions and believes
that such law passed by Congress
would be held constitutional.
The enactment of such Il law he
believes to b" IN" best hope Of the Pro-
gressives in 1924, since it will be- long
after that date when the constitutional
amendments proposed by Senator
Ashurst aud Norris are adopted.
The primary issue is II sharp one
for President Harding is irrcconciably
against the direct method and wonll
undoubtedly veto such Il law as Mr..
Borah advocates il it could be got
through congress.