The San Francisco call., 1899-03-09
THE NEW Primary LaW.

THE chief problem to be solved in connection
with the new primary election law which went
into effect last week is whether or not the peo-
pie for whose benefit it was enacted will go to the
polls and vote elections held under it In New or
where similar statute has been trial for about
two years, there has been change in the popular
indifference to primary political action and there the
machinery OF nomination is still, OF old, in the
hands of the bosses and their II the people OF
California do not take sufficient interest in their poll
tics to attend the primaries authorized by the new law
the exDerience of New York will doubtless be re-
peated here.
So far as layman may be permitted to judge, the
legal objections lodged against the former statute
declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in
March, I8o8-have been obviated Senator Stratton
attempted in that act to enlarge the qualifications OF
voters at primaries and for that his work was
annulled In its decision in the Tulare County case
the Supreme Court discussed the question OF test
for voting but did not decide it. Justice Garoutte,
who wrote the opinion, however, went far enough
with this argument to show that he did not regard
test for voting with favor-the power to make
reasonable one including the power to make an TN
reasonable one-and his suggestion that Demo
cratic Legislature might prescribe as test belief
in the I6 to I theory and Republican Legislature
faith in high tariff sufficient to show the dan
eerous character OF the idea and indicate that it
might be used by partisans to the disadvantage Of
the people.
These remarks seem to have had the desired effect
upon Senator Stratton. He has omitted the test
entirely from the law, requiring only that the
voter shall swear to membership OF the party with
which he desires to act. 1t is difficult 10 predict
how this rule is going to operate reasonable test
would perhaps, have prevented much prospective
fraud at primaries, and it may be that the failure
practically to prescribe any will nullify the good in
tent OF the statute altogether; but with the other
questions presented, only practical trial OF the sys-
TEN will demonstrate its strength and weakness.
SO after all the main question is whether the people
will care to vote at primary elections The political
bosses capture conventions, nominate candidates and
control patronage through the indifference of the
masses to their civic duties Does any one believe for
a moment that il every man in San Francisco at
tended as conscentiously to his election responsible
ties as he does to his private business corrupt
Supervisors, Doodle School Directors and incompe-
tent and dishonest officials would be elected? IT,
then, the present debased condition of politics is due
to the failure of the people TO attend to their duties
as citizens how is change to be worked by law
which merely makes their indifference more dlsas-
trors?
The new primary law is an experiment and as such
should be given full and fair trial Its purpose IS
to strengthen party organization, and IN this respect
it will correct most disheartening tendency in the
Australian ballot system namely, tendency to null
tiply piece" clubs and elevate to the dignity OF
parties" all sorts of committees appointed by sore
head politicians solely to defeat the regular candi-
dates One thing, however, may be regarded as set
tied before this statute is given trial. II the
people do not go the polls and vote for delegates
to conventions the politicians will have them more
firmly imprisoned than ever for none but regular par
ties can under the statute appear with designation
upon the official ballot.