The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1900-04-03
DIRECT NOMINATION
Primary Reform Has Become an Issue
in Portland.
a Plan to Extend the Provisions of the
Australian 5allot to the Primary
System.
Portland oreeonian, April 2. 1870

0iNkNhi"ht APiiA = ~ ~
The remarks as to ballot and primary
reform made by Mr.. Ed w. Bingham at
a meeting of lawyers last week have
aroused considerable interest in the
subject, Being asked for fuller expla.
nation of his plan for primary reform,
Mr. Bingham said:
"If | were to attempt to draft pri-
mary election law, ! might go farther
than would be agreeable to some of the
political managers, who are especially
pleased with the present methods of
conducting the primaries and holding
conventions and making nominations of
candidates for office in the names of the
parties think, however, that the peo-
are ready for such change in the sys-
tenn as will outline.
Australian Ballot for Primaries.
al would by law fix date, about two
months before the dates fixed for hold.
ing the general elections, at which all
the parties which cast percent or more
of the votes at the last general election
should hold and conduct their prima-
ries and nominate their candidates.
Have the judges and clerks appointed,
the ballots printed and the primary elec-
tious conducted substantially as our
general elections are now conducted.
The county clerk of each county would
print the ballots, furnish the blanks,
ETC., TO the judges the sheriff would
provide the polling places, booths, etc,
as now is done at our general elections.
The judges and clerks would certify the
returns to the county clerk the returns
would he canvassed and declared, as is
now done at our general elections.
"The qualifications of voters at the
primary election should be shown by the
last preceding register, or established at
the polls as now required 10y the regis.
tration law, in case the applicant is not
found in the last register.
Nominations to be Automatic.
''The electors at the primary election
would vote directly for their choice OF
the candidates for each office. Dele.
gates and conventions Of delegates would
thus be abolished. The election would
enable the electors TO vote directly for
their choice among all the candidates for
the nomination for each office. The
ballot would be printed in perpendicular
columns; for instance, the first column
would be the Republican, the second the
Democratic, the third some other party,
and finally "citizens or no.party
column might be provided. To become
candidate for nomination and have
ones name printed on the primary elec-
ton ballot, II would be necessary to file
with the county clerk petition signed
by qualified electors in number not less
than 3 per cent Of the vote cast for the
the office at the last general election.
All such petitions would have to he filed
not less than 10 days before the date for
the primary election, and the nominee
would have to accept the invitation dur
ing two certain days Immediately after
the said 10 days had expired. Thus, on
or before 10 days before the primary elec-
ton all the proposed candidates would
be named, aud during the ninth and
eighth days before the primary election
all the proposed candidates would have
to accept the invitation, in order TO be
printed upon the primary election bal
lots. Duplicate impressions Of the bal
lots, upon colored paper, would be circu-
lated in advance of the primary election,
as sample ballots.
Secret and Uninumidated Voting.
"The elector would be permitted TO
split his vote upon the primary ballot
lust as he is now allowed TO do at the
general election. lie will be expected
TO vote at the primary election in way
10 signify his choice among oil the
would. be candidates for each office. The
wauld-be candidate of each party, who
receives the highest number Of votes,
would he the candidate OF that party TO
be printed upon the ballot at the follow
ing June or other general election. To
illustrate: Suppose there were three
parties, and the no-party or independ'
ents participating at the primary cleo
tion. The result would be that the
Republican who polled the highest
number Of votes among the group OF
Republican candidates would have the
Republican nomination for that office.
That Democrat who had the highest
number OF Democratic votes in the
group Of Democratic candidates for a
particular office, would have the nomh .
alton Of the Democratic party for that
Office for the following general election.
And the came for the third party aud
for the independents. Certain declara-
tons Of party principles in the alterna-
tive might likewise be brought forward,
printed on the ballots and voted for,
and the majority would control. IL is
system of making nominations and do
claring the principles OF party organiza
tons directly by the electors OF the
party, and does away entirely with the
present conventions for making nomin-
ations and declaring party platforms