The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-04-01
THE HOUSE AGAINST THE PRO-
POSED MEASURE TO REFORM
ELECTION.
DAVIES BILL ALSO DEAD.
THE SAME LITTLE
GRAVE.
FUNERAL GRAFTON OVER FIRST
It's Author Satisfied, While Defend
Ing HIS Pet Project, That 1t
Could Not Pass.

The Hicks election law, which has
been pending for some time, was taken
up by the house yesterday afternoon.
On special order. and, after careful
consideration by that body, was Lost by
a vote Of 36 to 81. The Davies measure
ON practically the same subject-both
providing for the abolition Of conven-
tions-was Indefinitely postponed. The
oliIs, H. F. 80, by Mr.. Davies, and H. F.
$50, by Mr.. Hicks, have been on the
tapis for some days, as stated, and it
was generally understood that neither
would pass.
Judge Hicks spoke to his bill for pos
sibly half an hour, saying little Or
nothing about the Davies measure He
stated, in his opening remarks, that his
speech was almost like a funeral ora
ton. He admitted that there was OBJ
lection to any change in the election
law, as it now stood. The country did
not want it. While the country might
be free from the abuses which crept
into city elections, he added, the coun-
try could not escape the evils which
came to the body polite through the
corruption of city politics. The prin-
c1pal argument against the present
election system was one which Is In
cident to conventions and the delega-
ton Of power to others. His bill pro-
v1ded that each voter should have the
privilege of voting for his choice Of per-
sons to be nominated for any office.
Inc voting for nominations should take
place at one time, for all the political
parties, and the machinery of the reg
uIar elections was to be used for this
purpose, which would insure the pro-
ceedingS against fraud, and also give
absolute secrecy to every voter as re-
CARDS his party affiliations. Another
trouble with the present election sys-
tenn was that there were no safeguards
for honesty. The Hicks bill would re-
quire every voter to register before
taking part in any primary election
The judge admitted that his bill was
not perfect and his only reason for not
devoting more time to it was that ne
had become satisfied that it could not
pass.
The measure was strongly criticised
by Mr.. jacobson, who said the country
did not need such a bill, because the
country people were honest. Mr.. Mey-
erS objected to It's passage because 1t
denied to the voter the right to take
part In the nomination of a Republi-
can alderman, because he was opposed
to the theory of the protective tariff,
or any other similar right now enjoyed
In other words, it forced absolute party
lines and left no opportunity for the
Independent voter
Mr.. Dahl objected to the bill because
he thought it would give greater adj
vantage to men who have money, and
he insisted that elections cost money
enough already; too much, in fact, to
give the poor man a chance
Mr.. Feig was in favor of the bill be-
cause 1T was in direct line with the
Australian ballot system, and because
he believed in the people and honesty
and ability.
Mr.. Dale stated that he had, two
years ago, advocated the same kind
of a bill, and the Hennepin delegation
only laughed at him.
Without much more discussion and
with no attempt at the slightest
amendment, the Hicks measure went
to the vote which killed it dead. The
vote by which the bill was lost was SO
for and 81 against.