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setting aside its nominations in case the voters should be dis- 
pleased with its work would be retained. The Oakes-An- 
thoine Bill was an attempt to embody the views of the compro- 
mise group. It failed because the proponents of the primary 
viewed it as an opening wedge for the return of the conven- 
tion system, while the advocates of the convention system 
preferred the old-time convention to the proposed compro- 
mise. A few belonging to the left wing of the radicals be- 
lieve that it makes little difference whether nominations are 
made by the direct primary or by the convention system. 
They believe that time is being wasted on insignificant details 
when the attack should be made on the party system itself. 
