The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-16
THE PRIMARY LAW.
It's Author Witness It's Application
in Seattle.

4
primary election law. was IN the city Yes
ter1zy. ard spent the afternoon with "
II. White, secretary OF the Republican esty
central committee. in visiting the polls O.
the various precinct primaries IL response
10 q reporters inquiry as 10 the object CT
his visit. Asr. HicAs said:
II came over today 70 witness the prae-
teal opera ton OF the scheme for a fair
and honest primary. which was conceived
and embodied IN the Lew primary election
lax. TO purify politics. especially NUM-
eipai politics ! believed 1t vas necessary
20 90 10 the fountain hsad-tEe local party
primary. You are. Of course. familiar with
me methods employed by unscrupulons
politicians IN carrying a primary election
under the old open system. wherein stuff
nng OF the ballot box, repeating and max
Ing false returns were resorted 10 70 de-
feat the honest expression Of the voter. J o
effect 3 reform OF these abuses and 10 re-
dnce the power and influence OF the ward
boss and his gang OF *heelers' TO a mini
mum IS tie object and scope OF this law
The Australian ballot has gone long way
toward giving rs a pure and honest cleo
ton. and il occurred to me that the same
system. modified to suit the conditions, eN-
tended TO the primaries. would accomplish
like result and be far-reachlng in its ef-
fects for good.
From what you have seen OF its appli-
cation Ia the primary election just held
does the law realize yoGr expectations Tor
good?"
Fully. so far as its operation has tome
under my observation. At present. though.
il Is tee soon 10 form a correct opinion as
10 It's merits Tor practical working. But
from what have seen of the primaries to-
day ara satisfied the theory works out ali
right ia practice One could not bar re-
mark the different atmosphere which per-
vaded the primaries from that on former
occasions, especially In the First ward.
Instead OF the turmoil and strife that has
marked such elections in the past. all was
serene and quiet. No police were required
10 qaeli mob or preserve the peace. From
those charged with the Carrying out Of its
provisions / have heard no word OF COM
plant Little or no friction has been en-
countered in meeting the requirements OF
the Law toward which its simple text and
absence OF all encumbering detail has ma
terialiy contributed: and 10 the candidate
the officer and voter alike II commends it,
self in favorable terms"
DO you apprehend that the Law will be
repealed, or declared unconstitutional
mo. DO not claim for it the best that
could be devised, but from what / have
witnessed IN this city. and what / know
OF the experience of other municipalities
that have heretofore held primary elections
under its provisions. and from the general
absence OF any well founded criticism on
It's merits. / am confident the Law viii fe-
main upon the statute books The people
Of California felt the need of a primary
election law. and the last legislature of
that state passed one. but the author draft
ing u made IL applicable only to the cities
Of san Francisco. Los Angeles and Sacra-
mento, The courts of that STATE. vt,s,.--74,gg
Gently declared II class.ts1 do not con
Template any such defect I'm the law Of this
state. as 1t is made applicable to all he in
corporated cities and towns of the state
alike"
There has been. then. no criticism Of the
law made worthy of consideration. as you
believer
No. There has. OF course been criti-
cisms made, but in each instance they have
emanated from some ward politician, who
has suddenly found his occupation gone
and his opportunities cut of By it's pro-
visions There is ore misconception. how
ever I find prevalent among the unin-
formed In regard 10 the caucus provided
for by the law. The use of the word caucus
is COMPOUNDED with the Specification attach
ed 10 a legislative or conventional caucus
There is nothing further from its meaning
The caucus 81 The primary election law is
purely and simply mass meeting of the
party members in their respective pre-
cincts Its time OF holding is made known
by publication, and II (as a would-be critic
has said II is only necessary TO secure
the caucus Ga feat he likens TO walking
under a high wall without tipping his hat)
II Is a victory all Americans recognize
TIA; the majority shall rule; but he forzsts
that the work Of the caucus Is subject 10
rejection or revision at the polls. The
caucus is merely The starting point OF the
political machinery. and is fashioned upon
tie old democratic mass or town meeting.
restricted TO the precinct. The boss may
succeed In packing a precinct caucus, tut
7 defy him 10 pack 4 convention under the
opera ion Of this law "
The successful working Of the law is no
doubt gratifying to you. Afr. Hieks2''
Eyes. Indeed. am glad succeeded in
placing the law on the statute books Of
my native state, and believe every uprizh,
aud honest voter is With ne on that propo-
sitlou.