The Monmouth inquirer., 1924-05-15
DIRECT PRIMARY
LAW ATTACKED
Repeal Suggested by New Jer-
sey's Powerful Organization
of Industrial Leaders.
BAD EFFECTS REcoUNTED
General Tendency to Evade Duty Of
Franchise Regarded as DepIora-
ble-various Concerns to Pay
State s5,43s,s for Year.

Trenton. One of the most signifi-
cant phases Of the annual session Of
the Manufacturers Association OF
New Jersey at Atlantic City was its
action upon one of the ost important
political topics of the day. By unani-
nous vote that body adopted seso-
luton calling upo its more than 1900
members to take steps for the educa-
ton of the thousands Of toilers in
their employ in the value Of the great
constitutional privilege Of the ballot
to the end that the exercise Of the
franchise might be more general and
that government may not be controlled
or directed by blocs and other minori-
ties.
The organization went further than
that. 1t suggested in the same reso-
luton that its board of trustees make
a thorough survey and study for the
purpose of determining whether the
repeal by the legislature of the direct
primary law might not have the eff
feet of stimulating interest in the gem
eral elections, state and national. The
original resolution had proposed the
application OF a per capita tax of $40
a year upon every citizen of voting
age, to be imposed in case of failure
to vote, but to be RENTED where the
franchise is exercised. That feature
OF the proposal, while bit too drastic
in the minds of number of the alert
leaders, was seriously regarded as
fitting penalty to impose upon those
who neglect such a patent patriotic
duty.
This action was the reflex of a gem
eral impression in the minds Of the
members that many of the most fla
grant ills in the conduct Of government
are easily and readily traceable to the
mysterious and palpable indifference
of the people OF the nation to the vital
necessity of making it government
"by, of and for the people" which lies
within their power, demonstrable at
the ballot box 1t was brought to the
attention OF the convention by the
reading of recent newspaper edi-
torial calling specific attention to the
amazing fact that less than 10 per
cent, often less than 80 per cent, of
the people take the time and the slight
trouble to go to the polls to register
their wishes. Mr.. Smith, the member
who read the editorial and thus open
ed the unusual discussion, wondered
how many of those in the large num-
Der present had been guilty OF this
neglect. but rising poll showed none.
Several, however, expressed the be-
lief that the low percentage was due
largely to the Indifference of their
employees. One or two others ex-
pressed a belief that 1t might also be
due to the large increase of the vot-
ing populace from equal franchise and
the hesitancy of the large mass of wo-
men to go to the polls.
Cause of Governmental Weakness
But whatever the cause the evil
was regarded as one of the essential
causes of governmental weakness and
breakdown. Charles E. Hendrickson,
a former assemblyman from Hudson
county and at one time a member of
the State Board of Taxation, empha-
sized the direct primary as an actual
ing cause in the marked deterioration
in the caliber OF representatives
chosen for legislative bodies, national
and state, to which attention has been
directed from time to time by OBJ
servers who have had opportunity to
note the marked tendency of political
organizations Mr. Hendrickson point
ed out that under the existing system
the man or woman who can command
a following by exercise Of influences,
even of sinister character, are those
who must be considered by the po
litical leaders and the party leaders as
best calculated to win votes and thus
the election Radical groups are thus
enabled to force themselves upon the
attention of party leaders and expe-
diency, more than ability to share, be-
comes of first consideration. Attain
ment and training give place to a GER
tain SNUG popularity and capacity for
gathering votes. The effect upon leg
islation and all the coordinate func-
tons of government has been noticea-
BILE in New Jersey in recent years, and
many thoughtful men have given Sc
rious attention to a situation which
gives no promise of betterment.
A Significant Declaration
The most significant thing, how
ever, about the action of the Manufac-
turers' Association was its source.
Here is a body of nearly 1900 busy
men, captains of industry, hard head
ed producers of fabricated goods, pay
ing in annual wages somewhere near
a half billion of dollars to 10000
toilers every year, and presumed in
the nature of things to have no
thought beyond the dollar sign, rails
ing vital issue of the utmost impor-
tance to every citizen and taxpayer in
New Jersey. The organization es-
chews politics. Partisan questions
have no place in their program. They
meet annually to consider and act
upon matters of mutual interest.
They represent the industrial life of
the state and, of course, as part of