Evening star., 1951-12-30
The Primaries
Our 43Yeor-OId Experiment in Picking
Presidential Aspironts Draws Attention
By D. Harold Oliver

by u. n
The presidential primary. a 49,
year-old experiment, is attracting
new attention as 1852 approaches,
chiefly because it gives big tip-off
on Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower's in
tentions.
On March IL, New Hampshire
voters will express their preferences
for presidential nominees and select
delegates to national conventions.
Fifteen other States will hold presi-
dental primaries later.
Republican and Democrat support
erS of Eisenhower are planning to
file petitions to put his name on
their parties ballots. Petitions must
be filed by January 30 Then Eisen-
hover would have 10 days to clarity
the situation-Say by withdrawing
his name.
Presidential primaries were started
In 1908. Wisconsin held the first
one. The idea was that the sovereign
people would. by having their say.
thwart the bosses in the smoke
filled rooms. But it was found that
political machines could often work
their will through primaries as well
as through conventions.
Lows Are Confusing
In the Is States that use presiden-
tial primaries, laws are confusing
and sometimes ambiguous. In some
cases, for example, citizens vote their
presidential preferences while at the
same time voting for convention
delegates whose intentions they do
not know.
The primary system, as now prac-
ticed, does not usually give any crys-
tal-clear indication of the Nations
popular choices of nominees. Nor
does it give any sure-fire tip-off on
what the national conventions will
do. For example, of the 496 dele
gates chosen by presidential primary
for the Republican Convention in
1948. only 153 from f1ve States were
definitely obligated.
Between March II and June 8,
Republicans and Democrats will elect
about half of their national conven-
tion delegates by the primary method
the Republicans $50 out of 1.199
and the Democrats, $40 out of 1924.
The remaining 80 States pick dele
gates through State conventions or
by State party committees. State
committees have the option-rarely
used-of holding primaries in Ala
bama, Arkansas and Georgia.
After New Hampshire, the next
presidential primary comes in Min
neSota March Is. Up to now, Mime
sofa has used the convention method.
Until filing headlines come along
in January there can be no definite
entries Of candidates. On the Demo-
cratic side, President Truman and
Senator Kefauver of Tennessee have
been mentioned as prospective en-
tries, the latter in California. Neither
has announced
Republican primary contestants
with or without their consent-have
been listed tentatively as Senator
Taft of Ohio, Gen. Eisenhower. Gov.
WdIICi1 VI Sdll1OIl lid. oGoo~
sen and Gen. Macarthur. Mr.. Stas-
sen announced his candidacy last
week
A presidential primary law was
first adopted in Wisconsin in 1905
and used three years later. The idea
reached the height of its popularity
around 1916 Since then several
States have abandoned the primary.
How Primories Work
There are several different types of
primaries. Here is a brief deScrlp-
ton. by States:
CaIifOrnia-No direct presidential
preference vote, but direct election
of delegates, who may be pledged to
q specific candidate.
Illinois preference
vote (not binding and direct cleo
ton of unpledged district delegates.
At-large delegates chosen in State
convention.
MaryIand-Presiden preference
vote on election of delegates to State
convention, which in turn elects
delegates to national convention, who
may or may not be pledged.
Massachusetts-N direct presi-
Dental preference vote, but direct