, 1925-01-30

gates know who the candidates are and what their qualifica-
lions are before they are voted upon. The political party is re-
sponsible for the candidates chosen. The life of the party de-
ponds upon selecting and putting into office, men and women
who will inspire the confidence of the people and who will not
betray their trust after they get in. A party cannot continue
to exist whose numbers do not at least in the main make good.
Its continued existence depends on reelection, and that de-
ponds on public confidence. The state convention and the nat
ional convention is but an extension of the same principle. The
convention system is truly American in origin. We have a rep,
resentatiye form of government. 1t is neither a monarchy-a
government directly in the hands of one man-nor Il democracy
"a government, directly in the hands of millions. Our fore
fathers and the trainers of the constitution wisely made it so.
Immediately after the Revolution the coonists set about TO es-
tablish the new government. There never was Il more pro
pitious time for the formation of the republic of the United
States. On the one hand the tcolonists had just succeeded in
breaking away from the tyrannies of a British monarch and on
the other hand they were daily Witnessing the hdtoc of the
French revolution under the auspices of u pure democracy.
With those two glazing examples before them, they shaped the
great American republic-a representative form of govern
ment, which has endured for nearly one hundred and fifty
years and became the greatest nation on earth John Quincy
Adams said "The only genuine liberty consists in a mean
equally distant from the despotsm of AM individual and u
million"
The theory Of a representative form of government is that
the intrcacies of the business of government and the rights
and obligations of society are so complicated, that the citizens
who are busy in their own lines of activity to make a special
study of the details and complexities involved, who best ac-
complish the purpose by selecting trusted representatives, who
are qualified, therefore, TO represent them, make the necessary
study of the various subjects and thereupon enact, interpret
or execute the laws of government. The same principle applies
in the matter of selecting officers. Under the convention sys-
TEN, better officers are nominated, because the candidates are
more carefully chosen and the party is responsible for them.
Furthermore, they are responsible to the party.
The primary system is not truly an American institution.
1t is an abortion in a republic, the same as the initiative,
the referendum and the recall. If we doubt the wisdom of our
forefathers, after one hundred and fifty years of experience,
and want to convert this republic into a pure democracy, let's
keep the primary and enact its companion measures. If We
do not, let's get rid of it.
Many hopefully still think that It should be retained as an
instrument in the hands of the people to be welded in behalf
of good government. 1t has not proved an effective weapon for
that purpose. 1t has made for inefficiency in office, burden
some and expensive dual elections, apathy on the part of the
voting public and almost the entire elimination of party re.
sponsibilty. The convention system should be restored.
Perhaps, it would not be wise for the legislature at this
session to repeal the primary law, but in view of the general
dissatisfaction there is on the subject among the people gener-
ally, the legislature should submit the question of its repeal to
a popular vote at the next general election. The expense of
taking such q referendum would be only nominal, and If the
people want to return to the representative systemsof nominat-
ing candidates for public office, they will have an opportunity
to say so. In two years from now the legislature will then be in
position TO register the will of the people, as expressed at a
onu1a e1actiOn