Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-19
Smith Attack on Primaries
Is Approved and Condemned

Debate over the attack on the direct
primary system made by former Gov
Alfred z. Smith of New York is con-
fined largely to evils which are charged
,cttVely, against this method OF
making nominations and the conven-
ton plan. There Is commentator ,foI
the latter, however, on the ground that
definite party organization is main
tanned by conventions.
Mr.. Smith is but one of millions OF
thinking Americans who have aban-
doned hone TIL reform will be accom-
plished by the direct primary" declares
the South Bend Tribune, which believes
that the two parties ARE not sharply
divided, as separate political entities
on the direct primary question" Thai
paper, however, thinks the greater sup
port has come from the Democrats, anc
holds it refreshing to have fIr. Smith
one Of the most prominent Democrats
come out against the primary"
"A body Of intelligent delegates" say'
the Memphis Commercial Appeal, "woulc
inspired b. the idea of bringing sue.
cess to their party, and would therefore
cast about for the best and strongest
candidate, but the masses might bC
swayed by one of a hundred or more
different causes" That paper, however
is convinced that change will be me-
with stern opposition by those who still
idealize direct popular vote"
Force in eX-Gov. Smiths declaration
is emphasized by the Providence Jour
nal because he was originally in favol
of the primary" That paper adds
Every intelligent observer Of the pri'
mary system must admit It's shortcom.
ings. 1t has not succeeded in making
the business Of nominating and electing
candidates more truly democratic thar
before. 1t has put a premium on dem
agogy, excessive expenditures and ire
sponsibility of action. It has broker
down party discipline and produced II
the Upper House of Congress a state Of
chaos which amounts to tragic non
functioning Of orderly methods of gov
eminent. The convention sys.
te at its worst is intolerable. At it,
best-Where it ought to be kept-it II
in full harmony with the spirit Of rep
resentatiVe democratic institutions"
y X X
Condemning both the convention anc
the primary s they have existed, the
Dayton Daily News advises trying tx
get something better" AS to the his
tory of these political methods the
Daily News states: 1.-THE alternative X
the direct primary is the old nominating
convention. The nominating conven
ton came into being in the 1905. By
the turn of the new century the nearly
unanir louS verdict was that 1t was
failure. 1t has been employed for u
years. So disguised with its workings
were the people Of the country that
except for the national convention TX
nominate Presidents. from Maine u
| California it was abolished. The direc
primary was put in its place. 1t ha.
stoc for now more than 20 years, ant
IC Smith, at first its advocate, say
| it is a failure. There are plenty Y n
agree with him. There is much to be
moan in the working OF the direct prl
mary. But tn, nominating convention
also was a failure. There was never 1
more sweeping condemnation OF an.
political institution than the condem
| nation which, between 1905 and 1910
abolished the nominating convention
the States"
"Under the primary system party re
81 onsibility has become a disgusting
farce" asserts the Fort Wayne News
Sentinel. The Chattanooga Time
holds that sit is possible under tn
convention system to nominate ant
eli It particularly able men, but fey
such men can be induced to participant
in primary campaigns and fewer still
can be nominated over facile-tonguet
| demagog.es. The Hartford Time
AYERS that 1T has not been evident tina
the primary method Of selection actu
ally produces better results than tn
convention plan and popular reaction
has been agreeable to a return in sew
eral cases to the convention method.
The GAINESVILLE Gazette, observing tina
Gin more than one case before the pri
mary the candidate is picked as sucl
by some unoficial, self-constituted bod
which determines in advance what tn
people should SETTLE" concludes tina
the objections to the primary Ear
forceful and important" The OShkosl
Northwestern sees mo reason why
coayent1ou systeuo eannQt be safe