The Trend of the Direct Primary1

During the past few years there have been numerous proposals to repeal and to modify the direct primary laws, and many changes have been made. In the opinion of those who consider the direct primary one of the leading political reforms of the present century, this activity is due to the machinations of the routed politicians conspiring to restore their power; in the opinion of others, less confident of the merits of the direct primary, it is the natural outcome of the defects which have appeared in the operation of this system. An examination of the more important changes proposed and of those made since 1918, may serve to throw some light on the situation at the present time.Lack of space prevents the presentation in detail of the proposals for modifications of the direct primary laws which have appeared in the legislatures within the last three years. Of course the mere fact that a certain change was presented in the form of a bill furnished no indication of public opinion, nor of legislative opinion, nor of the strength of the advocates of the change. It is true, however, that several of the measures enacted were passed after one or more defeats.