Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-06-19

| washington, juno ls.~-ffifnary re-
form with reverse English may be
tho next movement In American poll
tics. When the campaign for the
nomination OF candidates by direct
vote OF the people was started the
strongest argument advanced by Its
advocates was that IL would eliminate
the excessive USE OF money and ma
chine control In political affairs. il
was accordingly broadcasted as re-
form.
Now after somewhat extensive
trial OF the new system II is seen
that lavish expenditure Of money has
not been eliminated and that ma
chimes are still doing business at the
old stand. Hence the champions OF
the old order Of things are talking OF
lnaugurnting n reform movement that
will seek the abolition OF the primary
and n return to the convention system
OF nominations.
II In not claimed that the primary
lends itself TO the use OF money in
corrupt ways. There is no sugges-
; ton that candidates have been buy
Ing nominations by purchasing votes
at the polls. II IS insisted. however.
|
expenses of candidate and his op-
portunities TO spend money effective
ly although legitimately until his
chances are In direct proportion to the
size Of the fund which he or his
friends will provide. II is also con-
tended that machines can dominate
primaries as we'll as conventions. and
that a well-oiled. efficient Organiza r.
ton can put over its candidate or
its slate at from one-third to one
half the cost to individuals.
! Thus, tho proponents of the new re-
form say, tho primary has put the
: poor man out OF politics. 1t Is one
, of the theories Of our form OF govern
, ment that the humblest citizen can
attain the most exalted office in the
land, IL his constitutional qualifca
-, tons are all right, but that theory has
!, been knocked into n cooked hat bJ
i, direct nominations. In fact. It may br
. maintained with some convincing evil
= dence that a poor man has even less
chance in primary than rich mar
= has OF entering heaven.
n Pennsylvania Cases Cited.
J. illustrations in point are cited Il
- the recent Pennsylvania battle Of tn
\ ballots. clifford Pinchot, the anti-na
r. chine candidate for the Republican
? gubernatorial nomination, spent some
thing in excess OF $4,000 20 win hi
> prize, while George Wharton Pepper
- backed by the organization for tn
nomination for United States Senator
expended 900 or one-half tn
:. Pinchot fund Pinchot won by a com
- paratively narrow margin. while Pep
per was overwhelmingly successful
II cost the former three times tn
total salary which he will receive I
T. his four year term az Governor,
Or he is elected. while the primary bi
j. OF the latter was one-third more tina
the salary Of Senator for six years.
lie This IL urged as conclusive proS
Q. Of the prohibitive cost OF primarie
m 1t shows clearly that no man VII
IN did not possess a large fortune coul
n. oven contemplate being a candida'
r for either office. A moderately wealth
s? man would be debarred. while or
y. who would be dependent upon n
ut salary for his living would he utterl
a without hope. II that sort OF thin
I'd continues, it is argued. democrat
r necessarily must give way 10 a
,y aristocracy of wealth.
~, On the other hand, advocates of Il
I'M primary system find some comfort
the Pennsylvania case. As they s
II, Pinchot could not have been nom
II mated, except in a primary, and sin
- he was a reform and anti-machil
- candidate his nomination was a THU
- greatly 20 be desired by the Peep
- Likewise they contend that Pepper
personal popularity is such that q
machine can claim no credit for +
AZ nomination. They admit that the
~ system is TOO expensive, but they 81
m that a way will be found TO cure n
yer evil while retaining all the good the
N Is in the primary.
The rejoinder OF those who fav
IN return 10 the convention plan Is tn
/. conventions never dare 80 against
"a popular sentiment or demand that n
Re. been clearly indicated, and that Pi
NIB chot would in all probability nave be
es, chosen because 1t was evident IN
cir the Republicans of the state want
him. In any event precedent woJ
rec not have been established that max
Of the goyernorship solely Il rich maj
3. prize, for a convention can give I
lat nomination TO 4 poor man without
adj expenditure Of u dollar on his pa
rs- AS to the case of Pepper, they mei
,nt ly point out that in spite of his hi
no place in the public esteem. and in sp
" OF the fact that the party organic
ooI ton supported him, it cost the 81
- ator 100000 to secure a nominate
, that otherwise might have been
- without a contest.
rs Where the Money Goes.
DIS As has been stated, no one is ST
costing that money was used corrup
Every dollar of the immense sums
in behalf either of Pinchot or Pepp
Dictated undoubtedly was put TO leg
mate uses. and IL is probable that I
times the amounts could have been
pended without the slightest mfr,
ton Of the laws.
There is. as a matter of fact.
limit to the amount OF money d
can be spent in perfectly proper W;
In a primary in a great state such
Pennsylvania Newspaper advertise
for instance, might be carried TO 81
an extreme that a candidate wo