The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-11
STEWART & HoIndr,s nn1rc ca
A WEALTH OF BEAUTY
sTEwARr & HoLMEs np1rc 90

IN the primary. election a small minority
would select the candidate and The re-,
are now. man '"es
nos therefore I, It strikes me that the pro-
posed law would work better In compact
communities than In the rural districts.
vi account OF the greater convenience al
sfe,,i ng 70 the polling places. II might be
would not turn out at the primary cleo
tlon IN sufncfent numbers to furnish An
adequate sense of public opinion. i think
she law should be given a trial by putting
~ IN force in the beginning for municipai
elections only. III 1t should be enacted for
esiues OF the first class and perhaps also
TOT cities OF the second and third classes.
a very fair opportunity would be afforded
Tor testing its merits.
The fact that minority of the voters
mlsnt determine the candidate In case
extent an objection Whether this and
the other objections are sufficient to over
balance the apparent advantages of the
proposed innovation can be determined
only by experience"
r. Holster Cute: THE enactment of any
primary law that will stop bribery and
corrupt practices IN nominating conven-
lions Is to be desired. But before making
such rapid transition into Altrnria, as
Is proposed by the Minnesota primary act.
y must be remembered that since the
discovery OF America, the American peo-
pie, as political entity, have always
acted through. representatives. The arti-
convention OF delegates in f774; the-pcc-
ciaration Of Independence was made by
the congressional delegates in 177s the
articles OF confederation were likewise
adopted In ITS. and lastly in order TO
form more perfect Union. the conven-
tion Of 1877 presented to the people the
constitution of the United States for
Political parties in all of the states and
territories have grown and thrived I'M
der the convention system. The evils
that exist and which are practiced In
nominating conventions are infinitesmAl
rs compared with the bribery and cor
ruptness that H. practiced and prevails
ready to abandon that system OF law
making for the worse plan OF initiative
and referendum. Such q primary law
county OF Hennepin. Minnesota. but the
chances are 1t would be of the opposite
effect I'm the cosmopolitan state OF Wash
Under the convention system e,ch ward.
or election district, Is allotted definite
number OF delegates to represent II in
convention. II the first ward. for in
difference whether 300 votes or 1900 votes
are cast In that district at the primary
election. the First ward can only have
convention. The vote OF the First wal d
can be counteracted II desired, by the
vote OF the Third ward, which might have
uRQ IOItt OF more ueleHAtfS dltDtttu IL
Under the proposed law the voters. OF
such district al the First ward. when
a man or a policy should be proposed that
they would deem inimical to their inter
they have OF the vote In their district.
center on the candidate they favored and
have a much greater chance of naming
their candidate than they have under the
present system.
1T is pruverblal that there are many
men who consider II an insignia OF honor,
XII H.
ing about politics. to take no interest
in political matters and to publicly pro-
claim that they are not affected with
sens. And under the proposed law. while
they are praying in the synagogue, the
ward workers Will be rounding up the
votes In the Tenderloin district for their
candidates.
1.-THE proposed primary law would have
the effect OF preventing a certain IRE
sponsible and purchaseable class vot nx
at the primaries of both parties. The
proposed law would not change the con-
sciences OF such marketable individual
and would not prevent the securing them
The new law will not prevent the prac--
tice OF voting dummies In the place OF
absent and dead registered voters. Men
who are Interested In attaining political
honors and position are. not going y
step down and out ON the mere enact
ment OF primary law. II such men are
tolerated in party. ana Work dne'r s, praS,
change their base of operations from tue
convention 20 the primaries The new
law will not destroy factional contests
The workers at the polls. instead OF hay-
ing their friends and those with whom
they have an influence vote for their
delegate slate. will make UP slate OF
candidates and work for them.
sJsonventions are OF short duration.
Those who indulge In evil and corrupt
practices always come to GRIEF the as
sernbling together In convention with
~. nd dalogafea of marty from