The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1897-03-16
The Lewis Primary Election
Bill.
GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE PRO
POSED Law.


duced by Hon. VIM. T. Lewis of Ra-
cine, to require the holding of primary
elections for the nomination of candi-
dates for office, and 20 provide the
manner Of conducting such preliminary
elections, is in perfect accord with the
plan outlined in Mr.. La Follette'S ad-
Dress embodieS the best provisions of
the Kentucky law and is worked out
in detail to conform to the general
statutes upon elections now in force in
Wisconsin.
1t provides a simple and complete
system whereby the people are granted
the same privilege and freedom of
choice in the nomination of the oandi-
dates of their party, as they now have
in the general election.
1t makes the primary election as
much a proceeding of interest, dignity
and regularity as the general election,
and of much greater Importance in Sc
curing good men for Office
1t provides for the direct control by
the people of their party organization,
gives such organizations legal standing,
duties and responsibilities, and makes
them means to assist in carrying out
the popular will instead of means to
Illustrate or enslave it.
1t applies the principles of the Aus
tralian ballot and present system of
conducting general elections to the pri-
mary election so simply and clearly
that the voter has no new thing to
learn and Will readily understand it.
1t at once and completely eliminates
the party machine from state and local
politics, makes corruption of voters i'm
possible, and abolishes caucuses and
conventions, with their attendant
'roorbacks," unfairness, sharp prac-
tees, selfish trading, want of delibera-
lion, and consequent dissatisfaction,
unpIeasantness and ill-feeling.
It aims to make politics as decent,
self-respecting and honest as any otner
important business or civic duty or
transaction, and to give every man a
SQUARE and equal chance, whether to
express his preference as voter, Or
% try his strength as a candidate 1t
eliminates partisanship from judicial
md municipal elections. It would save
hundreds of thousands of dollars BIZ
ennially.
DETAILS OF THE BILL.
The following are it's important fea-
lures:
General Provisions
/. A primary election is defined as
an election held for the purpose of
nominating candidates for all state,
congressional, legislative and county
offices.
2. Such election shall be held on the
first Tuesday after the first Monday OF
September before each general cleo
ton, and shall be conducted in sub
stantiaI1y the same manner as such
general elections, shall be held at the
same election booths, and during the
same hours of the day. Each party
shall conduct it's own primary election,
but all parties shall hold their primar-
les at the same booth, and at the same
time Thus neither party will have an
advantage over the other, will be in
terested only in the selection of the
best men, and will not be governed by
the mere motive of eXpedlency.
8. An act punished by the election
law as an offense is also an Offense If
committed at primary election and
likewise punishable.
f. The secretary of state will give
notice between the first and fifteenth
of July of the holding of the primary
election, and combine such notice with
GIIS I'll IuC uOlulhS VI a SoOAASA Oh
election now required by law. CThis
will add but trifle, if anything, to the
expense now attending the giving of
such election notice.
5. All legal voters are entitled to
vote at a primary election, but shall
exercise that right only in the primary
of the party with which such voter af-
filiates.
Registration.
g. In voting precincts where regis
tration is now required for general
elections, voters will also be registered
for primary elections. Meetings for
such registration will be held by the
regular inspectors OF general elections
in the August preceding the holding
of the primary; voters registered then
are not required to register again Tor
the general election; at such registra-
ton those who desire to take part IN
the primary election of party, will
be enrolled as aff1liating with such
party
T. The committee of each party in
each precinct shall conduct the prl-
mary election of such party in such
precinct. and where registration is re-