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About The Oregon daily journal. (Portland, Or.) 1902-1972 | View Entire Issue (June 26, 1908)
THE . OREGON DAILY JOURNAL, PORTLAND, FRIDAY EVENING, JJJNE 3, 1CCX w HZGT PRIMARY FOE I S OF THE OLD MACHINES r v mmEitic J. BASKET. Yv askimrton. I. C June 26. With the RepubUcaa convention Just behind, and the Democratic, conven tion Just before them, the American people are greatly exercteed at this time about the whos, whys and hows of "getting the nomination." So far as national politics la eoncernedne might search the constitution ana the laws forever and never find one word to authorize a political conven tion, or to Rive power to a conven tion's mandate. : Yet a vast number of the voters ot the United States place the action of the convention above their own convictions and vote for the nominee regardless ; ot per sonal preferences..! -And the members of the electoral' college one has ever disobeyed the command of bis party convention. '' ". ; ' Political party nominations are necea- hut to the. c&rter of the. American statesman.. No man . Is se great that he en enter public life without the i aid of a nomination to help him to of flee. or the capacity to control nominations lo help other to ffioe. The lnfre- : quwnt successes of Independent candt tjates for minor offlcea mark the ex rntlon which but DroTea the rule. Therefore. It la apparent that the whole fabric of our political Inatltutione rest ipon the political party nomination. The voters can chooae no better man for president than Is nominated by the parties. The so-called Independent vo ter can never aelect a mao to serve In the White House. That section of the public may Induce a party t take Its choice by bartering a promise of the "independent" vote, but under or dinary circumstance It must take what ' the parties give It; the greater of two goods, or the lesser of two evils. . . arominatlng Machinery, Just at this lime It la Interesting to mark the progress of the nominating machinery of the American political parties. In the beginning there wti the caucus, then - came the delegated convention, and now the direct pri mary election bids fair to carry the machinery to its most democratic ex tremity. There la great talk or, con ventions that are boss-ridden, and the like. There has been Such talk before; ever since conventions were held, In fact. The greater volume of complaint now Is but the evidence of the increas ing purpose or tne people to xaxe me into meir vwu power ; of hands. nominating Leavine aside the hosts of munici pal, county, state and congressional of fices, for ' which nominations are al ready made Dy direct primaries in many interesting 10 appiy . in la theory of the direct primary to the nomination for the presidency, the most important function exercised by pollti- i a nartv. Select the Chief. The t ramers of the constitution did not believe the people possessed suf ficient wisdom and Judgment to se lect the chief executive of the federal government.' They battled long over the proposition of leaving the selection to the national legislature, or of en trusting It to the several state egisla turea. j;n the end, they left It to elec tors to be appointed by the various states not by the people of the states in such manner as each state legis lature might direct. The constitution was null and void from the very beginning, so far as the ppirlt of this provision was concerned. The people had every confidence In their ability to select a president, and they were very careful to choose as electors only those persons who would reflect the popular will. Thus the electoral : college came to be merely an empty form,,o far M the constitutional func tion of choosing a presiden t ie con cerned, it Is very far from being an empty form In that It provides a sys tem which gives - the smaller . states more cower In Dronortion to their pop. ulatlon than would obtain In a direct vote; and thus makes the selection of a minority president possible. Selecting- Presidents. '! The fathers declined the proposition to vest the power of selecting a presi dent in the hands of congress out of consideration for the Integrity of the trl-partite system or government wey were establishing, In which the checks end balances of and between the execu tive, judicial and legislative depart ments were so nicely adjusted.; But congress soon perceived that the elec toral college was amenaoie 10 im popu lar wilL Therefore It set about to cap. tain and oommand that, will, thus vir tually slvlng congress me power o timA the nrealdent. . Political parties appeared in congress before lines were drawn among the people. The congressional caucus was the result From 1788 until 1800 the presidents Were named - by lniormai ' rarty caucuses of members of congress. The attacks on '"King Caucus" were begun In the public press as early as 18(50, although the first formally .con voked nominating caucus was not held until 180. From that time until 1824 "King Caucus" ruled supreme, and the presidents were !ri4t, chosen by toe memoers jOI congress - H Congress and Politics. . .. Tf that method of selecting- party can. didates for president had prevailed, It is a safe bet that the list of presidents from Monroe's time until now wouia . not contain a single name which it now bears. Congress has always looked at things irom a point ox view quite af ferent from that of the voter. It does not ran u I re erreat mental abllltv to Imagine that f the present Republican members of congress would not choose Mr. Taft, or that the Democrats in con gress might prefer another than Mr. Bryan. Certain It Is that no congres sional - caucus would have nominated Theodore Roosevelt. Abraham Lincoln or Andrew Jackson. It was the certainty : that a ' caucus would not nominate Jackson that led to the establishment of the ' conven tion system by the overthrow of "King Caucus." In 182J tbe Tennessee legis lature by an informal vote placed the name of Andrew Jackson In nomination for president. This established prece dent, and two years later the legisla tures of various states by solemn and formal legislative enactment, placed the names of their favorites in nomina tion for the chief magistracy. . ..When Jackson did become president he recognised the power of the political use of the patronage of the office. He used this power to build up a machine, to establish the convention system and to Inaugurate present day political par ty methods. Every president since his lav -has used the power of patronage for political purposes, to an extent vary ing with the personal characteristics of the man in office and the necessities of the occasion. ; .: .: Iiartla Tan Bursa. '.' - Jackson forced the nomination of his enblnet minister, Martin Van Buren, as Ms successor. He used the federal of ire holders to get the nomination for Van Buren. Mr. Roosevelt may have utwt the office holders for a like pur jir.ne. and the "allies" may have' cursed liltterly, hut they said' the same things uml breathed the same 'cursea which vcre heard when Jackson was in the White House. - ... i The difference nowadays Is the in creanlnir Importance of the primary. A direct primary far- presidential nomina tion has riot been suggested seriously, a jet. But many suues are already ncri ill n g the quextlon of Instructions to iic!i'8ii by a nrlmary. Mr. Taft de-1-ntil Mr. Rnosevelt in the California );-pnlillran rietilscit this spring. Mr. 1 ivari was jrlven Instruction by tV'is- .,.in and Alabama by a popular party .vmplnlnts that delegates to eonven i'fins r not left to do their will and t. fi,lliw their jnl(tment but are drir "i uiiil'r the whip by the control of l e turfy )rdrr are often heard. Just Bryan are called the "bosses" of the two great parties. Yet a glance at the past will show -that no ' party leader can control delegates at a national con- ro against tne will of the masses of the partv. ' A lesripr nfiin win. It was exciting, ing. but It was not alw 1t was interest- ways for the best. I F 1 than they have In these latter days. It Is true but the very nature or a con vention ' nre vents true deliberation. Del egates left unhampered by Instructions are apt to be swayed by . the most ar tificial devices, they are very unlikely to consider the genuine, needs of the tiartv and country. After -a while the ' people began to object to the Introduction of. so many I dark horses. Instructions to delegates) became more frequently the expression of the opinion of the party in a state as to tne rotative menis or om ieaa-i lng aspirants; less frequently a com- pllment for a favorite son ana a oasis i for trading and "dark horsing." The! can oomDel tne drZt.. t.J.Jl primary election has given the voters their own will If i. t... I control of the-nomlnatlo What did the' power of the administra tion amount to in ih. ...n in .A nominate a candidate to succeed ArthurT ... u' DUt 11 ln vain. Mr. Cleve land, like Mr. Roosevelt, had very pro nounced ideas about ths civil service and "pernicious activity" ln politics: but they-d4d not prevent the power of the Cleveland office holders from being used ln conventions. What did it amount to In Chicago in 1896 after Mr. Bryan brourhtin the cross ot m mnA th crown of thorns?, ' . - ,.'. 1 ' j.'."-. ' Oood Old Says. . , There was a time when tha national conventions met without anyone being able to forecast the outcome. There would be a dozen candidates to start with, and frequently a dark horse would control of the-nominations for smaller offices, and they are. reaching out to control the greatest of them all. This is the reason the national conventions have become but ratification meetings which formally register the will of the party, The tendency - toward : vesting more power in tne primary means a great change la American politics. Until this time the greatest interest has bees., in taklnr sides wltn some aspirant ana aia Ing him to work the machinery In the direction of "getting the nomination." If the present tendencies are carried out, the Interest in the future will be changed to ' the business of taking Sides with some Idea and aiding in the work of ."making the nomination." skin Fair, healthy. n ana eaun skid powder. satin (kla bestowed by Batla we. - TUT For everybody. See our special line of Porto Rican Straws, Reg. $2.50 vals. A TIIIS WEEK ONLY, ; Our regular $6.50, $7.00 and $7.50 PANAMAS Every, flat Guaranteed $485 Every Dat Guaranteed SALSBURY . ,. HATS -J t t i " (l V Are In a Cl2ss by' Them selves. A $3.C3 Cat far SOLE ACENTS CLOTHING COMPANY COMER aiOHRISON AND SECOND STS. ' . . . . . " King of Flaked Foods There are flaked foods and flaked foodsbut the orig inal flaked w h e at food was J It is stiU the leader that all others follow . --It is made best, tastes best and is best " The food that puts life into tired nerves and worn-out muscles. Crisp, delicious flakes of wheat combined with tne purest barley-malt. ,,-,' k " FORCE" is made el the best white whest. stesm-oooked, --folled into thin flakes, combined with the purest barley-malt -and baked. Always " crisp it before serving it by pouring into pan end warming it is ores. Then serve in large dish with' " cream, piling the flakes in one side "bl the dish sad pouring ths cream is the other side, dipping the Bakes as eaten. ' i- v "; ; ' . . " ' . s . j-.-'-. . .- ; Your Grocer sells it. No ether Flaked Food is "just as good. ' WW II 71 5 .a . Sale Begins Tomorrow, Saturday Mi1 TiDHT) ifm This will be the biggest Shoe Sale ever held in this city, as thousands of pairs of High-Grade Up-to-Date Men's, Women's, Children's, Misses' and Boys' Shoes and Oxfords will be on sale at less than manufacturer's ' - . . ' cost. REMEMBER, these are air the newest styles , ; . ' "SAMPLES" from the best factories. So everyone can be ' r suited at a bargain price; bring the-whole family down Saturday. ', ''. V.' .ti l mm Remember, These Shoes Will De on Sale at Dolli Stores Cor. 1st and Madison M 38 Pair -At 75c Pair M 11.00 Pair ildrenV a 'ft ' ' :rs, and I br , in all lit - ' r ' loiee' of '. 1 k. 0 We have hundreds of pairs of Children's Kid Shoes tans, reds and blacks : . also ' Boys' and Girls' Sandals, and Men's and Women's House Slippers, worth up to $1.00. All go at 39c a pair. . You can get Men's $1.50 Canvas Oxfords, all sizes; v also Boys' $1.50 Calf Shoes and Oxfords. Misses' $1.50 and $1.75 Kid Shoes and Oxfords, Children's Fine Patent Kid Shoes, Oxfords and Strap Slippers Women's $1.50 and $1.75 White Canvas Oxfords 5iT4c , All crct af HKr r.ir ' e w w ve, r w a s . . , r . 'f ' . j"k You can get your choice of ' Ml hundreds of pairs of Misses and Boys' Fine Kid and Pat ent Leather Dress' Shoes and Oxfordsin blacks nd tans; also Children's Shoes in all styles. This lot also contains " Women's Patent. Kid, Vici Kid and Tan Oxfords and Shoes, x worth up to $2.50, arid plenty, of Boys' Blucher Cut Calf Shoes in all sizes. All go at $1.00 pair. - At 1.-35 Pair . iui viw u iuaav Dress Shoes and Oxfords, . worth up to $3.50, in all new styles black, tans and pat ents; this lot also contains Men's $2.75 and $2.50 Vici Kid v .' Dress 'Shoes and Oxfords in black, tans and patents, all sizes, ana tne very best ot .Boys' Dress bhoes and Oxfords in blacks and patents; all sizes, all go at $1.45 pair. At '81.95 Pair 5 oiiss i$ , Y Shoes in black, tans and pat ents; every new style is here, including Pumps and Garden -Ties, in all sizes and widths. In" i his lot you will also find hundreds of pairs of Men's Dress Shoes and Oxfords, worth up to $4.00, in all the leading styles in tans, black and pat ents. Every foot can be fitted as we have all sizes and widths in this lot.' ' . .-' . ' . Gives you the choice of Wo men's finest $4, $5 and $6 Custom-Ma rfi TSroee Clin, r Oxford, Garden Ties and Colonials in tans, blacks and' patents revery size and width is here. This lot also contains Men's Finest $4, $5 and $6 Custom-Made Dress Shoes and Oxfords in. lace, blucher or the new button in tane and patents ; every shoe in this lot is a perfect gem. All sizs and widths, so you can be, fitted. All go. at $2.65. Remember, we have a style for everyNeye and a size-for every foot, so come and get your footwear at Cut Rate prices. THOUSANDS OF THESE SHOE BARGAINS WILL am UN uisJLAY, SO COME AND HELP YOURSELF. -I l w m At $2.65 Pair - r. 1.7 in jam . ABflM- IP SHfTlC TOIIDC Pa Cor first rnrplK-v-.. , ' ' S 208, Morrison & Madison TREATMENT WE UILL GIVE YCU ONE UOPIIO'S TREATMENT FREE! It tov havs any contracted disor der, blood trouble, rheumatism, or any nervous disease, you will find that our treatment will curs you promptly, , painlessly and quickly. uau ana se us. . . Hours 1 a m. to t p. m. Sunday, IMPONDERO THERAPY CO. Ksrohants . Tnurt bldf. ' 608 yFfiLSE TEETIIi !akei leese, Drsppteg -..uig,.! lurunrsise Teetk fit perfeclly tight at ue ursi sppUcstloi, Cares Sars Sun. Hakes srtats.swssi. 1 - -. ' n eV sa WOOD4BD, CXajRKB St CO, - ) maw : ( r XEXXXCX i Wq CoolestPlace inTo vn IS INSIDE A Plev fiefricli Refrigerator Keeps your food in perfect sanitary condition 'and enables you to live a ' . lifetime. ALL PRICES ALL STYLES J. cF.ilM!D)llY; 130 FIRSJT STREET, NEAR CORNER ALDER Hardware, Stoves, Tinware, Enamelware, Etc M . j:.is lime ilr, Roosevelt and ilr. I