Use the excerpt below to answer the question.
In particular, the party declares for direct primaries for the nomination of State and National officers,
for nation-wide preferential primaries for candidates for the presidencyÍľ for the direct election of
United States Senators by the peopleÍľ and we urge on the States the policy of the short [simplified]
ballot, with responsibility to the people secured by the initiative, referendum and recall.
—The Progressive Party Platform, 1912
Which question is BEST answered by this excerpt?