The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-05


us. i is necessary TO have caucus,
nasi's,. q primary election, and finally a
~ llk convention to which the rar-
~ leaders and political boss are gefser-
-s sent as Delegates and where thew
s shnpiog az the means known 20 tie
10 hrin;. 18TH and schefning poiitici n
~. ~ Vther words. our nominating conven-
luis are too remote from the people.
49,, plitnary election law would place the
lower now held by the political boss and
wire puiler. through a nominating con-
nshtion directly in the hands OF tho
psople, and i Is much safer TO trust ali
direct nomination OF candidates who are
.2 oe their party's standard bearers in
the hnal election.
,,.i am n favor OF primary election
aw which shall not he limited in it,
morkings, as the Minnesota law IS bit
snali De made general and Applicable to
s MI. ard every county in this state The
minnesota law applies only 70 counties
having a population OF 10000 or more. II
sucn law IL beneficial 10 a thsckly set.
uea community, there Is no reason why
n y snouid not be beneficial to one less
popuions. Then, again, under the sys-
tenn OF registration as set forth in that
law repeating and other vicious practices
r nnown 70 the politician would b. entirely
j believe that II Is the duty of every
good citizen. irrespective az party anil
auons. who desires the nomination OF
uniy fooa men for our public offices to
use MS influence In bringing about the
enactment OF "A direct primary election
law, which shall be general in its work.
inss' Tor the state o. Washington"
Boyd J. Tallman II believe In the d.
rect primary because | believe that It Ia
IN the interest OF good government "
VIII reduce to a minimum the objections
to the present system OF making nouli-
iations. It's adoption Will result in COM
ing as near 10 abolishing the evils OF
present political methods AZ II is pos
SIDE 10 come at single step.
Inc plan or making nominations by
direct vote Of the people is not a new
one. ~ mas been In vogue for many years
N PENNSYLVANIA. where II u known as
the Crawford county system. The plan
used there is neither as thorough nor as
perfect as the Minnesota law. 1t makes
the mos, serious 10 sae 70 BE- so nsrsd
against the direct primary. but. fmper-
feet as II liz. II has done satisfactory ser
Vice for many years In the selection of
city ana county nominees.
'One OF the greatest objections TO the
Pennsylvania plan IL that Ii does not re-
quire all the parties to hold their pri-
maries on the same day, provision that
Is one OF the best features OF the Mime
sofa law. This matter alone is a great
argument In favor OF the direct primary,
as the requirement that the voter siail
mark only one ticket corrscis grest evil
In our present system This requirement
prevents double voting, an offense often
committed under the present system
Wnen close contest is on. The voters
OF one party attend the primaries OF am
other and assist IN thwarting the will of
the majority. This Is constant danger
TO any political party. 1t would how
ever. become thing Of the rast with
the adoption of the direct primary
Another good thing that can he said
for the primary election law IL that II
aboiishes the calling OF the professional
politician, who Is In politics to make a
living out OF political grating and poiit
teal manipulation. His calling will be
gone when there are no longer caucus -
and primaries TO be run with high hand
and conventions to be manipulated by
means OF deals and trades.
The main objection believe. that
could be urged against the system ~ that
II makes u very expensive for the can
didates. With the fate nf their contest
for nomination depending upon the d.
rect vote OF the people. X Will be neces-
sary for all of them 10 make the same
kind Of personal canvass prior TO the
primaries as during the campaign preyi-
GUS 10 the election. This will be expcn-
sive to the candidates, but Is not seri-
Gus enough objection 20 b. considered
In connection with the great benefits 10
be received from the direct primarg,"
Judge Richard winsor: 81 am surprised
that you should ask me such question.
the rost-fnteiligencer ought 90 know
that the populist party has been advaca-
tion; that It's state committee here In tho
state OF Washington tried t. put into OPP
GRAFTON such q measure by voluntary ac-
ton OF the party Every rDpuiisf H.
pleased 70 know that while the lamp
holds out To burn the viiest sinner may
return: even though the Post .intsiiig en- er
may embrace the measures ~ the foru-
list party and help put them into effect
IN the form OF a law Yes. | am In favor
Of such law and hope that the nessurA
may be- a thorough one which viii sig
Nifty death 10 political heelers and para
III il a very difficult task 10 make such
measures efficient by mere co-opers ton
OF party efforts. Unless II y made "a
question Of legal necessity ana carefully
guarded the poi8ical parasites VIII ma
Sarne way ~ evRdirg Tire Safeguards Of
tha measure, I cannot see WHY any peirti.
cal p.rfy should have any ohyections 70
such a measure. " viii be equal pr lee
don 10 all No such transaction as GO
cured IN Seattle during last wear coal 1
he repeated under such 4 Law, that -
the same set ef political hetlers arsi.
seesaa controlling the Democratic psi
r,artes and lastiy aktsx their unholy
pr,.seaee aud lnnaence felt In the fopu-
~, n 4 @ep In the right direction. TIE
Asasrafian ballot system II anNtniNk ? Z
,,ersesf yet and a direct nomination law
4, thfs state tfsssy rot b. perfect ~ nT-t
r,ts h a a move IN the righ' diffr,ton
which an good eltiSrns Should sia and
SfSy al means then iei Papulisl meas
,.rca prpvait enc AZ trsr II not faster
i care not through what tnsiruinen'afity