Marble Hill press. (Marbel [sic] Hill, Mo.) 1881-1923, 1899-10-12
AGAINST A PRIMARY
Estate Tribunal

State Tribune.
Governor Lon V. Stephens has
been frequently asked Of late what
he thought Of the proposition, now
being so extensively discussed
throughout the state, to nominate
state candidates IN 1900 alta general
primary. He opposes the plan,
and gives out the following author.
lzed statement embodying his
reasons therefor.
"lnasmuch as | am q candidate
for nothing and do not propose to
attempt to dictate the partys'
future policies or its nominees, ! can
express myself, hope, at this time
upon the subject Of the mode Of
selecting our next state candidates,
just now receiving so much con,
sideraion, without inviting the
charge Of seIfinterest or improper
motives My love for my party and
my interest in its success alone
prompt me to oppose the primary
plan Of selecting state candidates.
"Llst year when an effort was made
to work up Il sentiment through
out the state favorable to placing
0a the democratic ticket at ourstate
convention candidates who were not
democrats, then thought it was un-
democratic; that it was full OF danger,
and thatlt would 60 far to destroy
our magnificent organization, and
brought upon my head the mai
edictions OF many because of my op
position to it. The subsequent
nomination ola straight democratic
state ticket and its election by an
increased majority, | think, vim
dcated me. ! trust that even those
who may differ with me at this time
will give me credit for being just as
honest and sincere as they are; that
they will give me also the same
right to oppose that which they
favor without giving oiIense.
81 oppose the primary plan for
the following reasons:
81. Idoubt its legality. The Mis-.
souri, statutes recognize only the
convention plan Of selecting state
candidates. The last Legislature
enacted laws directing separate con
venuons for the purpose OF nominal
ing candidates for judges and state
officers. Must we have separate
primaries2
20. Suppose the state committee
should direct that candidates for
state Offices should be named at a
general primary, and many Of the
counties saw fit ignore these direct
ions, sand to call conventions to select
delegates to Il state convention when
held? This would result in general
primaries in one part Of the state and
conventions in the other, which
would bring about confusion and
complications, disaat GUS in the eX-
treme, Even irthe state committee
had the authority, that authority
might not be wholly respected,
-. The cities st. Louis and
Kansas City have special election
laws. The elections in all the
towns and villages Of The state are
governed by well known laws,
There is no law in the Missouri
statutes regulating " primary,
where 363,O0O democratic voters
would be expected to participate.
Without special laws governing Il
primary the doors would be thrown
open to countless frauds, and i'm
position of all kinds would be
practced upon the party by un-
scupulous political schemers.
Irregularities aud crookedness
would be discovered in many OF
: the counties Of the state as well us
in the cities, and it matters not
how great might be the majority
ofany of the candidates, many OF
the voters would more than likely
be dissatisfied with some of them,
and danger would ensue to the
party
"A. What might DO beneficial tc
party interest IN Monroe and Gala
way counties might not be as bene
fetal in Cooper and Cole counties
1t is best, in my Judgment, TO leave
the mode Of expressing coupty''
choice to the local committee
Local self government is demo
cratic, and all good democrats
believe in home rule.
"5, The county committees can nov
have primaries in their yariou
counties, allow the democrats t,
vote direct for the candidates frou
governor down If they sec lii---th'
candidates receiving the higbes
number Of votes to 10 considered th,
choice Of lhe county, and 10 reoelvi
tho vote Of its delegates ID the stat
convention. AidrAin county, FL
many years. has prHeliced thl
method of selecting delegates 70 ih
state convention. The time reqursl
eanvasslug Che county aud iAa es
lraordinaiiIy heavy eKpense q II