Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-15
/ PROPOSE
new PRIMARY
Would Have Convention Re-
stored, With Delegates
Elected BY the Voters.
BIZ ROBERT 4. SMALL.

| BY Consolidated Press.
AKRON. Ohio. July 15.--As . sub
stitute for the direct primary sys-
TEN now in vogue IN this State there
is being offered the party convention,
with a provision that delegates 20 the
convention must be elected by direct
| the system which prevails in national
conventions.
| 1t is contended that II Presidents OF
the United States and Vice Presidents
are nominated under convention
system, there is no reason why State
land congressional candidates Should
not be chosen in the same manner.
Efforts Of the more radically -minded
politicians to obtain direct presiden-
tial primaries have failed aud un-
doubtedly win continue to fAil, In.
view OF the disclosed costs Of running
senatorial primaries in certain States.
Not alone would presidential prinla-
ries cost fabulous sum, but there H.
no telling how many or what kinds
of aspirants for this high ONCE they
would bring forth.
100 Might Enter Race.
There are at present IL varied and
assorted candidates in the field for
ernor in this State A presidential
primary might easily call out q field
of 100 or more aspirants.s Some Of
the men who consider themselves At
to be governor would have no hest
fancy in Offering themselves for the
presidency. It Is not difficult to re-
duce the free and unlimited primary
to abaurdity.
The recently organized tight against
the primary In this State rapidly is
gaining momentum. Thus far Il IL.
exclusively Republican, undertaking,
ebut Democratic aid 10 expected. The
fight had been contemplated for some
time, bat the recent disclosures be-
fore the Reed committee in washing
ton have given II the necessary I'M
petus Of acute public interest.
The generaiship OF the fight ts ex-
cellent. II Is proposed to amend the
direct primary CLAUSE In the Consti-
tuition by empowering the legislature
| to say how such nominations shall
be made. The present constitutional
provision Is mandatory. Under the
proposed amendment the legislature
could continue the primary system.
| modify It, or provide for State, county
and district conventions. to which
delegates would have to be elected.
Convention Real Aim.
The spirit, II not the letter Of the
campaign. however, calls for the con.
vention system, with elected dele
| gates. The movers for the amend
ment say this safeguards for the
people every right and protection
which now exists under the primary,
makes Il impossible to return to the
old caucus system Of electing dele
A.. - l..
conventions at which duly elected
delegates can make nominations for
once.
80 state the thing in another
way" says the prospectus of the cam
paign. ut Is proposed to give back
to the legislature the power to make
such rules ana regulations a. II may
80 ut In providing Tor tlae floTnina-
tion Q1 State, district and county 0E.
dcialss but Il can provide no method
without giving to the people chance
IN q primary 70 select their own dele
gates 70 any convention which may
At first blush the idea. of selecting
delegates TO State convention under
q primary system would seem to be
but q slight step away from the
existing direct primary method Of
nominating. A wealthy aspirant for
Office could conduct g Statewide
campaign for delegates to the con-
vention, but experience has shown
that once delegates get into q conveGl-
ton and into conference with each
other, sense Of party duty develops
which often thwarfs Individual am
bitions. In any, event. It has been
proved that the direct primary sye-
tenn In many instances puts o pre-
MUM on wealth, drives the poor man
out Of politics or compels him to
seek financial assistance from those
who seldom give without expectation
Of being amply repaid.
Estimated Cost Heavy.
Members of the primary referen.
dunn committee. which Is headed by
G. i. knight Of this city. a force
full power In the Republican party.
have estimated 1t would cost q cam
didate for governor fully 100000 to
effect simple county organization
In behalf of his candidacy. The
corrupt practices act Of the State
forbids spending more than e10, 100.
"But no laws can regulate any such
situation" says Mr.. knight. Every
one knows that the corrupt prac-
tees acts are violated with impunity
at every election. When we have
reached the point that no governor
can be nominated for q $4,000 job
without spending $4,000 to $780,
900 to get the nomination it is high
time to call q halt The primary