Evening star., 1926-10-25
DAWES AGAIN HITS
PRIMARY SYSTEM
Tells Polish-Americans 1t Re-
suits in Choice of In
ferior Candidates.
8y the Associated Press.

~ the Associated fFess
CHICAGO, October 25.-The pri-
mary system tends in many localities
to substitute rule by an interested
minority for constitutional representa-
tive government Vice President
Charles G. Dawes asserted yesterday
in an address of tribute to Thaddeus
Kosciusko, Polish hero, who fought
for American liberty.
Freedoms fight was ever kosci-
usko's battle" said the Vice President.
land the new Poland which arose
from the World War represents to-
day an end toward which he strove.
America today entertains only the
most friendly feelings toward
Poland"
Calling the attention of the as
semblage at the Polish American
celebration of the 150th anniversary
of the enlistment of Kosciusko in the
Revolutionary Army 20 the evil in
this country of the primary system"
the Vice President in part said:
Local Issues Govern.
"As result of the primary system
the present senatorial contests in the
different States which theoretically in
volve national issues are being largely
fought out upon local and personal
issues
In some large centerS of popula-
ton. in county and city elections, the
numerous candidates under the pri
mary system for party nomination
divide the impartial vote and increase
the power of an existing adminiStra-
tion with a controlled vote to select
its candidates. a State, county or
city administration having large pat
ronage and large business contracts
f6 xri,Jn ltrn, I,J
vote for its selected candidates.
The primary system, therefore, is
responsible for the election by parties
of some men whose chief effort after
election seems to be to disorganiZe
their party and fight its policies
Again, In other cities the ballot is so
large that it is impossible TOR the
average voter TO know anything of
the character, competency or attitude
upon public questions Of the most of
those on the primary ticket He
largely votes in the dark for all minor
offices.
Question of Corruption.
1T is no answer to this situation
TO say that corrupt organizations can
control nomination at Z convention
FOR less money than they can control
the primaries. This is questionable.
But they are much more certain to
control a primary than a convention,
the impartial portion of which can
unite intelligently in opposition.
Again, the fight in the convention
or the impartial and intelligent sec
tlon against the corrupt or controlled
candidate better precipitates the issue
before the people in the election. The
opposition in the convention can al.
ways be trusted to make prominent
IN general election the improper
influences which resulted in the Sc
lection of a candidate while under the
primary system it is only occasion
ally, often accidentally, that the real
iorceS of corruption behind candidates
become known to the public
"A nominating convention com,
posed of intelligent men inform them
selves as to the character, ability and
competency of nominees The con.
Ventton, having its mind on these
qualities. often with the power and
desire to nominate an improper can.
didate, will follow reason instead of
desire and nominate good candi-
date for the purpose of insuring
party success in the election where
there is always a comparison of can
0idateS according to these qualities
In primary election the interested
minority will demand and more GER
tainly secure candidate devoted to
their interests"