St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-03-24
FOR PURE PRIMARIES.
The Cairns Bill Is Recommended
for Passage.

for Passage.
On assembling after recess, the house
resolved itself into committee of the
whole, Mr.. Cole, of Otter Tail, in the
chair, who later gave way to Mr.. French.
Ii. f. 1S, Mr.. Cairns bill to regulate
primary elections, was taken up. The
author at once offered series of amend
merits, those of Importance being:
First. TO make the law apply only to in
cOIpOrated cities of 10000 population or
over by the last census; second, provld-
ing that in cities of less than 10000 pop
ulatiOn primary elections shall be con-
Quoted under rules and regulations to
be prescribed by the local committees.
with no specific limitations on the rules
so to be preScribed; third, providing for
the prevention of illegal voting, by
shutting out all except bona fide resi-
dents, and by barring from participa-
ton in any primary election voters not
known to be affiliated with the party
holding the primary or who has voted at
primary held by another party within
six months.
Mr.. Fleming Endorsed the amend
ments, and said if so amended the bill
would be perfectly satisfactory to repre-
sentatiVes of the smaller cities. lie
hoped, if the bill were enacted into law,
it would work so we'll in the large cities
that after the next election all the vii
lagos, towns and cities of the state would
ask to have the law extended to them.
Mr.. Comstock, of Blue Earth. said he
objected to the red tape provisions OF
the bill. even as amended. Mr.. Cairns
pointed out that the amendments abol-
shed all provisions which would apply
the election machinery to any place out
81 do bla To- nil nf NIY OF
still objected. The small cities do not
want it, he held. They simply want to
be let alone.
Mr. Bjorge objected to the provision
which would bar man from voting at
a primary because he had voted at the
primary Of another political party with
in six months.
Mr.. jacobson defended the am end
ments, and could see no good ground for
objection.
Mr.. Walsh Endorsed the principle of
the bill, and recited some of the dis
graceful incidents which had TRANSFERRED
in the Ninth ward at primary meetings.
He desired time, however, to study the
effects of the amendments, and thought
every member should have more eX-
tended opportunity to examine the
points involved.
the bill, and hoped its friends would
rally to its support and pass it with as
little delay as possible. Mr.. Underleak
Endorsed the sentiments OF his friend
from Hennepin.
Mr.. Walsh still asked for time, and,
on his request, the bill was laid over
temporarily.
When consideration Of the bill was re-
Sumed Mr.. Winston offered an amend
ment to make the hours for primaries 6
to D. M. which was adopted. Then
the Cairns amendments, as amended,
were adopted.
Mr.. Walsh proposed an amendment to
section 4, providing that in cities of
over 10000 inhabitants there should be
three polling places in each ward. The
member from the Ninth ward urged his
amendment OH the ground of simplicity.
A shower of unfavorable comments
greeted the amendment and it was over
whelmingly voted down. despite the
protests of Mr.. Walsh and Mr.. Ives.
The same fate rapidly overlook some
other amendments proposed by Mr..
Walsh which would permit good deal
of the old-fashioned style of caucus
work. The bill was then recommended
to pass with only few negative votes