The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-09-12

preacher TO the NOD carrier Simply De-
come ungovernable in their passion and
blind in their revenge seeking fury.
That is all there is to it.
THE PRIMARY CAUCUS DOOMED.
None anticipated the far-reaching
changes in electoral methods which would
be involved in the introduction of the
Australian ballot. Yet those changes
have wrought revolution in our entire
electoral system and have done more to
purify and elevate political action than
all other influences which had operated
for fifty years before.
Another change which promises the
most important results is now evidently
in process of effectuation in the same gem
eral direction. The primary election, like
the party convention, is menaced. The
tendency is being shown somewhat gen
orally to adopt such machinery in the
conduct of the primary as will put an
end to boss control, which has sbeen so
absolute at all times and everywhere in
Lie SOAOONl VI b-iS III AAAiS1iS NiCSIAOi
The recent decision of the District Court
of Hennepin county on the new election
law will. if sustained, put an end to the
convention system, with the result that
tunity to attend and vote, not for the
candidates whom the political bosses de-
sire to appear in the contest. but for any
one of those who, no ma,-er what their
sufficient number of electors to petit
ton asking them to stand as candidates
for nomination to local office before the
people
Down in Wisconsin they have gone far
beyond this position, and have provided
that the voters at the primaries shall
have opportunity to express Their prefer
ence as to the nominee for governor. In
the recent contest for the Republican
nomination for governor. ex-Congressman
La Toilette succee ded in capturing the
nomination against the machine under
the operation of the new system His
SdSSOSS was CAlcCAiNS III SCGuIlES tue III
PRODUCTION into the Republican platform
of the following plank:
1.-The great reformation effected in our
| general cleo ions through the Australa an
ballot inspired US with confidence TO APP
ply the same method in max ng nominal
ons, SO that every voter may exercise
his sovereign right of choice by direct
vote, without the intervert on or inter
ference of any political agency: We
fnr.a n nm
ventions FOR the Romina lion OF candidates
fer office be abolished by Legislative en-
actment, ard that ali candidates for
state, legislative. congI essi0nal and coun-
ty Offices may be nom mated at primary
elections, upon the same day, by direct
vote, under the Australian ballot
This is the plan under which the pri-
mary election will become something
better than a scott and a by-word in the
mouths of those who crfticse our politl-
cal methods. 1t is the system toward
which all proposed reforms are drifting.
1t Is the SYSTEM which will invest the
voters with the power to go to the pri-
mary polls and cast their votes for can
didates for nominations as effectively as
they now enjoy their same right to vote
for the nominated candidates at the reg
ular election. Many years have been
spent search for remedy for the
primary caucus, with It's record of indi-
vidual corruption and general popular
Indifference. Laws OF every variety have
been enacted to that end but when the
ensuing primary came to be held it would
be found invariably in every case that the
old practices prevailed, and that it was
practically impossible to put at end to the
traditional evils attending the system.
The Wisconsin law will change all this
The expression referendum" sounds
harshly in the ears of many good citizens
Yet the Wisconsin system, and, indeed,
the Minneapolis primary law, is, in effect,
but the application of the referendum prin-
ciple to the selection of the nominees for
public Office. A recent decision of New
this view; but,in reality it does not The
reform is forcing itself upon the poIiti-
clans. There is an undercurrent of public
sentiment which favors as extensive a re-
luIE as pOSS1UI6 u the people OF IDo1r
right to say directly and Immediately
who shall be their candidates for the sew
eraI Offices.
1t will not be long, with such re-
form system in operation, until the walls
Of senatorial perogative are broken down
and the members of the smaller branch
Of the federal legislature are chosen as
they should be, by the direct vote of the
people of the state, rather than by the
legislature. Nor will this be the only re-
form to ensue Partisan election boards
will soon disappear throughout the county;
and the people in every political division
will have imposed on them the privilege
and power to say directly whom they
prefer to hold their ol4ces.
WEDNESDAY GLORE CHANCES.
There will soon be snow in the air.
Snow is everywhere a synonym for white
ness and purity, yet in certain parts of
the world the snow is sometimes colored
red, blue, green and even black.
A st. Paul man was once in the en-
ploy of Russell Sage in New York In
settling their aaco41ntS thara urac dif