Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1872-02-14

Our PRIMARY ELECTIONS On our
fourth page will be found copy Of bill now be-
fore the Legislature, to regulate primary olcc-
tions. Had we been a candidate in the past or
expected to be one in the future, we would look
upon the effort to regulate our conduct by Legs-
lative enactments as a direct insult. And were It
not for the fact that other counties arc engaged at
similar cures for their political ills we would say
that it is attempt at insulting the whole county.
Legislation on this point implies that the polti-
clans Of those counties are scoundrols and cannot
be restrained from perpetratiug frauds at their
primaries except by penal laws. Such law may
be necessary in such counties as Allegheny, Craw-
ford and Lancaster, communities where the domi-
nant party is based upon and lives by fraud, but
is wholly useless in Democratic counties. We arc
aware that in a moral point Of view the times are
very much "out Of joint, yet, VIC do not believe
that it is necessary to ask the Legislature to inter
fere in primaries. We would rather help de-
feat round dozen Of candidates at the October
election, who had secured their nomination by
fraud, than ask for this bin to become law. Such
is the salye we would use to cure primary frauds
If We must have penal legislation, and our friend,
cannot be restrained from perpetrating fraud,
without il, give us the general election law. And
this is even Objectionable. The man who will
cheat in June will cheat in October, because there
is no half way house in these election frauds, as
witness the late total overthrow Of the election
law in Philadelphia, where psalms arc sung a,
nearly every corner and the Lord praised by tho
nj t,,. g.. .t
The community or party which goes before thc
Legislature to have the ills and sores Of primary
elections cured, have mistaken theirphysican, and
We will not be surprised to sec them applying to
the same doctor long 10 cure family and neigh
borhood broils. There is about as much sense in
the one as the other. The more laws we have
enacted to regulate our social relations the less
respect we will have for both. Social tics when
bound by Legislative onaetmcnts soon boone fct-
tiers. However, let the question be discussed
throughout the county, and let our Senator and
Representative know the opinion Of their constt-
uents and they win soon settle the question. Those
therefore who think that our primary elections
cannot be honestly conducted except by Lceisla-
tion, LET them say so in n note TO Mossrs. Wallace
and Lawshe. And let those who are willing to
try the old plan act in similar manner
For our part we think our primary election rules
good enough. Like the Constitution, which car.
ried US through three wars and was mover changed
or violated, until the period Of the '1ate lament
cd Yet who was foolish enough to demand that.
because Of The frequent violations Of that sacred
Instrument by Lincoln Co., Il should be changed
TO suit their violations, or an entire new one made
and the old one discarded Just so with our
primary election rules. An occasional fraud may
have been committed Two or three or half
dozen candidates may have received their nomina.
tions through fraudulent means, during the past
ten OF twelve years. That was not caused by the
rules. 1t was the fault Of the candidate and his
friends. We say, enforce the rules and then fraud
will cease. If we are too timid to enforce simple
rule, we will not muster courage enough to enforce
penal law. Ifa "new departure" must bo made
upon this subject let US defeat the candidate at
The October election Bho secures his nomination
by fraud and refuses to vaoatc whom the matter Il
brought to his notice. That t. our penal lerisla.
lion. Now let US hear from you, 'old fory.p or
new departure" advocate.