The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-17

SEATTLE. SUNDAY. JAN. II.
srFossrSe THE PRIMARIES.


TIE question % reforming the method
., ha8lne primary elections for the pur-
pose. in the Erss instance. OF protecting
against fraud. and In the second piacs. 10
d. away as much az possible with ma
chine methods in politics. IL exciting con-
siderable attention Ia various parts of
the country. The adoption Ct the Austria
Ian ballot system in primary elections.
the system In use in the state OF WASH
inefsn - recommended by Gov. Pingrse.
81 Mieagsn. in hIs inaugural address as
one method hy which fraud and repeat
ing 80 rae primary elections can be mini
nzea. THIS system undoubtedly has had
= considerable purifying effect upon pri-
nary elections but n does not touch one
practice bv which u Is stiIl possible 20
set aside the wishes OF the majority OF
a party. This abuse and us remedy are
Outlined IN the draft Of proposed bin
70 be presented 20 the New York legis-
laturs. which requires the officers having
charge Of registration to ask OF each
person who applies 10 be registered the
following questions:
DO you desire to register for the pur-
po.s OF participating In the primaries of
the political party with which you effii-
fatsf
II the answer Is in the affirmative. the
further question shall be asked:
with what political party do you wish
20 afIiuateT'
The answers TO these questions are
fnereupon recorded. No one who regis
ters IL compelled 20 disclose his political
faifh. bur only those who do so declare
Themselves VII be permitted 70 take part
In the party primaries. and then only In
the primaries OF the party with which
they announce themselves as affiliated.
1his L. the Kentucky system. A law
on these lines has been In force in Ken
lucky for the past FIVE years. and has
worked we'll In practice. The list can be
copied by the authorized agent OF any
political party acts as a complete regis
tratlon iist OF ell the qualified voters of a
party. and affords perfect security against
fraud Ia the primaries. provided the pri-
mary election officers DO their duty. The
mary. under the Kentucky system, Is
m6aelea precisely on the lines OF a gem
erst election. With sworn officers. pro-
visions 70 secure secrecy of ballot. and
the usual election restrictions and re
aairements. 1t Is apparently a very ef-
fective remedy against fraudulent prae-
tises. and is a guarantee 70 all who choose
% participate In their party primaries
that they shall secure fair play.
Notwithstanding these obvious advsn-
tagss. many objections have been urged
against tho adoption or the system in
New York. and these objections do not
come altogether from the upholders Of
Insehine methods IN politics. For ex-
ample. Il is urged that Il IS unfair TO
compel man 20 disclose his political
faith. or 70 disfrauehisc him 60 q certain
extent ~ he sails 10 do 80. The answer
readily ngxests itself that ne has to
assert his political preferences at the
time ne attends a primary. and no good
reason exists why he should not do SO as
veil a. the time Of registration az at the
time of voting. II he desires 10 preserve
the secret of his Political predllsctions. or
~ he has bone. It IL but right that he
shoai refrain from attempting to Ia
fuenee Tho course OF any political party.
Another objection Is not. however so
readily surmoun,ed This Is that the
hands OF the machins managers would
he strengthened II they had q complete
list OF every man in the party who was
entitled 70 vote IN the primaries. and
could thus muster their forces 70 the
better advantage. There is this 10 be
said IL the majority OF the voters OF the
party desire the "ulacAins'' to remain IN
eautrol and - express themselves At the
primaries, there IS no good reason why
they shcu'd no; ~ permitted 10 do 50.
The tact Is. ss EAR sc this goes. the
machine" IN party politics usually
means the party leaders who are man
sginw party affairs usually 70 the salts
faction ~ the majority Of thu party vot-
ers. while the ''rescru' element consists
az those who cannot command votes
enough IN the party rsaks TO themselves
seceue part OF the machine"
Against al the objections which can Re
urssd. Z; does appear that the ken
tgsiy' system IL as aistincs en- advance
ever ths primary e,ection systarns a.
present IA vogue as the Australian ballet
sysssn Is ovsr the former election laws.