The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1900-08-03
FOR CAUCUS REFORM.
L.aFoIIette FeneWs Afresh His
Warfare for Better Nom
nations.
WANTS PLATFORM TO SAY IT.
The Late Henry Il. Stout, Father of
State Senator StOut-MadisonC haU-
tauQua-Other Matters.

Madison, Wis, July 31.-The last is
sue of The State, Mr. LaFollette's pa
per SOcalled, contained u statement.
dated July IL, in which he calls atten-
ton to an address printed in full that
sity, Ann Arbor, March. II, 1898. He
has spoken much along the line of the
abolition of primaries and caucuSeS,
but he evidently regards the Ann Az
Dor address lit would fill eleven such
columns as thiS) as the best setting
forth of the reform he has long urged.
Mr.. LaFOllette's present object is to
secure adoption of the principles in the
coming platform at the state conyen-
ton. His action presages a legislative
attempt and with the governor-proS-
pectiye behind the bill, it will become
a law.
III his statement of recent date he
says: 1t can be safely asserted that
the Republican party will continue to
stand squarely for just proportion
ate distribution of the burdens Of tax
alton. and l am confident
that public sentiment strongly de-
mandS that each citizen be given an
equal right with every other citizen in
the nomination of the candidates of
his party"
An extract from Mr.. I4aFOllette'S adj
dress Will show what he proposes to
do-and in view of the fact that it will
be done, the event is epOchal in Wis
consin history:
Plan of Caucus Reform.
Under our form OF government the
entire structure rests upon the nominal
ton of candidates fol- office. This is
rne foundation of the representative
system. If bad men control the NOM
nations we cannot have good govern
ment. Let lis start right. The life
principle of representative govern
ment is, that those chosen to govern
shall faithfully represent the gov
erned. TO insure this the representa-
tiyes must be chosen by those whom
he is to represent.
The moment that any power or
authority over the representative
comes between him and those who
have selected him to be their repre-
sentative that moment he ceases to be
their representa- tive. His responsibility
is at once transferred to the interven-
ing power OF authority. He becomes
the trustee of this new authority and
to it he must render account for his
actions. 1t is vital then in representa-
tive government that no power or au
thority shall be permitted to come be-
tween the representative ana those
whom he is to represent. To secure
this every complication of detail and
method, in any system, behind which
such intruding power or authority
might be concealed must be torn down
and cast aside. The voter, and the can
didate for nomination who desires to
represent the voter, must be brought
within reaching distance of each other,
must stand face to face.
ITO accomplish this we must abOl-
ash the caucus and convention by law,
place the nomination of all candidates
i'm the hands of the people. adopt the
Australian ballot and make all nom
nations by direct vote at a primary
election. To be more explicit:
by statutory enactment designate
a day at least two months prior to the
general election upon which there
shall be a primary election for the
nomination of all candidates for office.
provide for this primary election
an official ballot for each party in the
form of the Australian ballot. Upon
this ballot print only the names OF
such candidates for nomination as
have filed nomination papers with the
secretary Of state at least six weeks
before the primary election.
provide that no man shall be en-
titled to file Il nomination paper will
the secretary of state unless a give1
percentage Of the voters of the district
I'll.
posed as a candidate shall have certi
fed upon his nomination papers, thei
desire that he become such candidate
for the office designated, just as judges
are called out as candidates under -eN
listing law in many states.
''Provide that when each voter en-
tiers the election booth on primary cleo
zion day he shall find a committee O.
his party in charge of a separate bal
lot box, and the official primary cleo
ton ballot upon which is printed tn.
names of all candidates of his part
for nomination.
provide that each voter may talk
the ballot of the party with which Id
affiliates, and in private, indicate
thereon the names of the men whl
are his choice as the nominees of hi,
party, and that he may then deposi
that ballot in the ballot box of his par
ty. |
''Provide that tho men upon the ba-
lots of each party receiving the highe& |
number Of votes shall be the NOMINEES |
of that party at the general electio |
to follow. |
provide for the election Of stae |
central committeeman from each al
sembly district to represent each parry |
organization and promulgate the parry
platform; and for the election ola |
county committeeman from every vt-
ing precinct for each POLITICAL party
Provide severe penalties for vioi-
ton of the law. prohibit electionet-
ing in or about the election booth ad
insure an honest count and return If
the votes cast.
'Now, these are all matters of sin
pie regulation with nearly all of With
the voter is already familiar becaIe
they have been applied in general elc-
tons for years. In addition. it is E.
quired of the candidate for nominatin
that he shall file nomination paprs
in order that he shall become a cani-
date. an6 of tho vntor ho ho f. |