Evening star., 1926-10-12
DAWESCONDEMNS.
PRIMARY SYSTEM
TO LEG|ONNA|RES
Nominations by Conventions
Would Insure Better Can.
didates, He Says.
CALLS "MINORITY RULE"
RESULT OF LETHARGY
France Renews Invitation for Ses.
sion to Meet in Paris
Next Year.
NJ ghe Associated Press.

~ she Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA, October 12.-
Vice President Dawes today Joined
bands with those seeking the abolish
nent OF the American system of pri-
$nazy elections for selecting candi-
&ates to public Office
He expressed his sentiments in the
course Of plea made before the
hat1onal convention Of the American
Legion for a greater exercise Of the
franchise by the voters of the United
States. whose lethargy, he said. made
&c possible for a very small minority
10 choose nominees who later were
eiected.
PERSONALLY l believe that the pri-
mary system should be largely
abolished and that if we follow the
theory and plan Of representative gov
ernment laid down in our Constitution
by providing for nomination by con-
ventions better and more impartial
class of candidates will result" he
said.
But even II the primary system
were abolished an increase in the i'm
partial voting in the United States is
the crying need of the hour"
Legion Project Endorsed.
The basis for Mr.. Dawes. address
was the plan of the American Legion
for getting out the vote in national,
State and city elections This prof.
ect he Endorsed as one vital to the
welfare of the Republic"
"If the American Government Is to
be a success" he said, "the American
people must vote. Indifference in the
attitude Of the American public
toward the franchise is the greatest
existing menace to American institu- :
tions. 1t is tending to substitute
government by aggressive and inter-
ested nnnorities for government by
the people.
Especially is this the case in State,
county and city elections. The per-
centage Of the qualified vote cast in
non presidential years is far below
the 81 per cent cast in the 1924
presidential election. After making
some examination into statistics
gathered from different localities
should say that in the primary con-
tests preceding elections in nom
presidential years in State. county
and city elections. North, South, East
and West, an estimate that % per
cent Of the qualified vote is cast is,
are still two dominant political
parties, the vote in most localities is
quite evenly divided between them.
Minority Elects, He Says.
"In such event the election of the
candidates to be voted on at future
election is determined In each party
by majority or plurality, as the
case may be, of only about 1914 per
cent of the qualified voters. Under
such circumstances men who are
elected to office are thus selected by a
small minority Of around per
cent Of the qualified voters.
I'VE all realize that as our national
wealth and population increase and
business broadens and becomes more
diversified there arises the neces-
sity not only for the Capitalization
of greater power in State, county and
city government. but for its constant
use in the carrying out of its legiti-
mate projects
Especially is this true in connec-
ton with State governments. I'M
mense road building projects are
being carried out by States. assisted
by the national Government. Our
state and city administrations are
accustomed not only to use public
employees in getting out primary
vote to maintain an existing admin
istration in power but in many
places all those interested in con-
struction or other public contracts
with their organization and employees
are expected to perform active serv
Ice in getting out the primary vote
for the same purpose,
AT the time. therefore. when, ow
ing to the Indifference Of the public
TO the franchise, the number Of quail
fed voters necessary to control pri-
mary election is leSse ming. the num-
ber of those having a business inter
est in the continuance OF an existing
administration and willing to work
at the polls for II is rapidly increas-
ing.
Controlled Vote" Growing.
"W'hile the general and impartial
vote is decreasing, the controlled
vote is steadily increasing. 1t is to
be hoped that in most localities there
is scrupulous and proper use OF
centralized power, but it is not too
much TO say that in some States ana
cities the power of the administration
is SO exerted that the dominant party
Will always present candidates at the
election selected by those having a
business and personal interest in the
continuance OF the administration.
Where this is the case we have
changed from a representative gov
ernment of the people into an oligar-
chr dominated by self-interest. AS
times goes on the evil increases.
"As long as our primary system
exists there is but one remedy for
the situation and that is to increase
the number of impartial voters of
both parties not only at primaries.
but at general elections. We have
lost our free government II those
interested in direct business relations
with government, either as employees
or through contracts. are the ones
who control the nomination of can
didates."
Cheers Greet Pershing.
Members of the American Expedf-
tfonar,- Force today faced their old
commander, Gen. Pershing. and
cheered him until the smiling. gray
haired warrior motioned them to
cease.
Gen. Pershing, who many delegates
said. could be the next national com.
mander of the American Legion II
he 30 desired. made a fiye-minute
extemporaneous speech before the
Legfon's annual convention. in which
he said he came merely to say. "Aow
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