The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-03-18
1O TRY NEN PLAN
PopuIists of Woods Go. Want
New System of Primaries.
Is LIKE THE REFERENDUM
People Suggest Names, Com
mittee Picks Five, Elect One

most important political action in Okla
county by the Populists. This viii be the
attempt to adopt a new primary system
which in a way applies the principles OF
initiative and referendum to partisan
nominations. On March 81 the Populists
of Woods county will hold primaries tc
elect delegates to the county convention
at Augusta, April 4, which will in turn
elect delegates to the Populist territorial
| convention at Enid. But the important
work of the Augusta convention will be to
vote on two new primary plans proposed
to accept one or the other or reject
both
Woods county has been a Populist
stronghold. For the most part the Popu-
lists have been against the idea of fusion
Two years ago the Democrats and Repub-
licans fused against the Populists.
The Populists if they adopt the Benson
plan will shut out of their primaries ali
those Democrats who do not believe in
the principles of initiative and referen-
| dunn
The Benson plan is as follows:
First That the name Of any person or
persons whom the people of their town.
ship desire to bring before the people as
candidates for any office, shall be given
to the committeeman of their respective
townships, and said committeeman shall
report all names so given to them to a
meeting of the county central committee,
to be called by the chairman of the coun-
ty central committee not less than thirty
days before the people are to vote for the
nomination of officers.
! Second-When more than five names are
presented for any one office to said coun-
ty central committee, the members there
OF shall ballot by the preferential ballot
plan, first, second and third choice, and
the names Of the five persons receiving
| the highest number Of votes so cast shall
! be published at least thirty days before
! the people meet in their primaries to vote
| for candidates.
| Third-That when not more than five
names are presented to the committee no
| vote need be taken, and the five names
presented shall be published as above
provided.
Fourth-That the people shall meet in
their respective townships at such time
as the county central committee may
designate, and cast their votes by the
preferential ballot plan, first, second and
third choice for the names published as
above provided, and the person receiving
the highest number of votes cast for each
! of the respective offices shall be declared
! the candidate.
Fifth-That the primaries shall be con-
Quoted on the Australian plan. and the
returns made to a canvassing committee
hereinafter provided for the same as in
general elections.
Sixth-Tnat the members of the central
committee at their meeting provided for
in section /, shall elect five of their num-
Der whose duty it shall be to canvass the
returns when made to them and declare
the results thereof.
Observation-Disclosures of voters-Any
voter may challenge any person Offering
to vote, on his qualifications. But if the
person challenged shall take the following
| oath he shall be allowed to vote: you
do solemnly swear that you will support
the principles of the initiative and ~efer-
endum and imperative mandate, so help
you Cod
This plan is the idea of Mr.. Benson of
that county. Mr. A. Macarthur has put
| forth an opposition plan known as the
Cincinnati plan" which is as follows:
Each voting precinct of each county
shall have one and but one precinct club
| or organization. with chairman, secre-
tary or clerk, treasurer and two judges
| of election who shall constitute the pre-
cinct committee or canvassing board.
The chairman of the respective precinct
committees within the county shall con-
stitute the county committee or canvass
ing board for the county. who shall
choose among themselves chairman
secretary, clerk and three judges of cleo
ton.
The referendum ballots shall give
names addresses and position Of candf-
dates, as proposed by their respective
clubs. and have blank spaces for voter
opposite each name
These ballots shall be prepared under
direction of the state central committee
and distributed at least thirty days previ-
Gus 10 the primary election.
! The primaries shall declare by ballot
their choice Of nominees to be voted for
at the next general election, and elect
committees for the next two years.
The county committee shall meet on the
| Thursday following the primary election
to canvass and certify votes cast in the
county.
| The state central committee shall meet
/ on the Tuesday following the meeting Of
/ the county committee TO canvass and
| certify votes cast in the state
/ These committees must organize al
/ their respective conventions. nominal IL
/ those persons who have received the high
| est number of votes and issue certificates
/ Of nominations. and file them with the re-
specuve county auditors and the secretary
Of state.
| One advocate. writing TO the Alva Re-
J view, maintains this: 1t seems 10 me
/ the only hope We have IS in the uniAca-
/ ton OF all reform elements on one vital
/ reform principle. The history Of the past
! shows this 20 be the fact From 1915 to
/ 1886 there were various parties Of reform
/ on the slavery Issue. which we're united
4 on the issue q non-exteusioa - chatteI
/ slavery in $50. IN lSso they won their
| first victory under the leadership OF
/ Abraham I2ncoln. Is not this an object
/ lesson for the present condition. The
/ only question IS what is the vital issue We
| can unite on2 believe. with Bro. Ben
| son. that the initiative and referendum
and Imperative mandate are able 70 RICH.
/ all wrongs from which we are now suE
fering- Why not make this tn issue
I Let other issues nide the time Than Pre-
/ ssSsional politicians VIII be relegate5 70
the rear and the people 70 The front
/ Then II the people refuse u take the oo-
/! porturity Tor relisf. ie: chem suffer and