The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1900-09-05
THAT PRIMARY LAW,

THE Hudson Star and Times al
WAYS has ideas of it's own, and has a
way Of it's own expressing them. l
Here is Brother Prices idea of the
proposed primary law:
The spirit of the proposed primary
election is wholesome, and should be
accepted as such. But the fact that
it is well intended should not defer
those who discredit it from express
ing their views The editor OF this
paper happens to be one of the lat
ter for two reasons: first, he believes
the doctrine embraced in it is pure
populism and not republicanism;
second, ne believes it will be the
means of stimulating an Office hold
ING class in the state, backed by a
leadership of bosses more dominating
than was ever dreamed of lnder the
existing machine method, so called
Populism favors leaving every
thing to the crowd, republicanism
favors letting the mass select the
wisest and best from itself to
evolve a desired order of things
through mastery representation.
This is the genesis of all society in
church, state and civil affairs. The
many do primary things and the
few. whom the many delegate, do the
things which require wider know
ledge and closer investigation. The
populistic notion which favors nam
ing all candidates without the medi-
tation of caucuses and conventions
must of necessity, if successful,
eventuate in deciding all platforms
and political ideas in the same way.
Platforms breathe the spirit of the
laws, so here you have the very
essence of the Initiative and refer
endum, if the caucus law should take
its natural course,
But, while human nature Is as it
is, the law, If enacted will not take it's
natural course. Men always have
been directed and always will be d.
rected. Leader will lead and the
mass will follow. The people are
the best folks in the world, but they
are as aimless as a flock of sheep
without shepherds. Under a pri-
mary election law who will be the
men to shape the tickets and the
platforms under the new order of
things? There will be self-trained
leaders who make the business of
office getting and Office holding a
trade, and who will reduce the pro-
blem of personal acquaintance to a
fine art. Men of the Bryan type
would be everywhere in evidence
because they would have a persist
ent personality; men of the Lincoln
type would die in obscurity because
of their modest devotion to hard
work.
Moreover, laws should be made
not only with reference to majority
parties, but with reference to minor
ity ones as WELL Contemplate what
a mess of misht: homogeneous and
unavailable names would show up
from the primary dragnet OF minor
ity politics in Wisconsin the pre-
sent fall! In the democratic party,
the question is not whom the rank
and file shall vote for at the primar-
les but whom the party managers
can ferret out and induce to per-
NIT the use of their names to so
upon the ticket. Probably not one
per cent. of the minority people ever
heard of the men who are today
placed upon their party ticket for
their ratification at the polls next
November Aside from the head OF
the ticket, probably not ten per
cent. of the republican voters can
speak the names of the party nomi.
nees, although the candidates have
for two years served their state
faithfully and well. This is repre-
sentative form of government, and
the people have Jared very well il
the past by trusting their repre-
sentatives, whether it be in politica
conventions, in church conferences
civic conclaves or Grand Army en-,
campments. Of necessity the many
must trust the few.
Yet, while not believer in the in