The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-05

3 party lines have been effaced in the
movement for the adoption or the pri-
nary election law by this state. Repub-
Acans Democrats and Popuiists unite In
4 Announcing the present convention sys-
am az one OF the most deficient parts in
.he scheme Of government and those who
nave made themselves familiar with the
workings ~ the direct primary are almost
ananiruous In indorsing II as a great step
s,vward IN political reform and step
shaf should be taken by the state Of
Washington.
MANY leaders in Seattle business. pro-
fessional and political circles have had
actual experience with the working Of the
urinary election system. All such unite
Is praise OF the Minnesota law. Penn
sylyania Ohio, Indiana and several other
Eastern states have had various forms of
~. direct primary for years, although In
none OF these states has the system at
tanned the perfection of the Minnesota
law
b The Posf-InteiliRencer prints the follow
sypx Ave additional interviews on the law,
expressing the views Of five leading at
tnrueys who have had much political ex-
pertpnce. -Four OF the interviews are un-
qualified In their Endorsement The fifth,
4 that given By Mr., Bausman, suggests that
tins be allowed for the law To have fur
Their trial before considering II for adop-
j ton by this state;
L. b. stedman n am in favor of any
system that will shut out the bartering
nov playing SO important part In every
convention. The sacrificing and trading
OF anything and everything IN order 10
make a combination that will land some
desired nomination Is one OF the greatest
s evils OF the politics OF today. There IL
& something radically wrong with system
Il that makes Il possible for candidate To
10 into convention with the support of
only forty votes and come out victorious
because those forty votes were so firmly
bound 10 him that no was able TO trade
them for other strength and thus make
the combinations necessary to secure
nomination, even when he was not the
personal choice OF the majority Of the
convention. ! am especially opposed 10
this system In its application to the judi
cfaI positions. Offices that should be en-
tireIy outside political influence.
y believe that the adoption or the direct
primary and the consequent correction OF
some ~ the worst abuses OF the present
political system Will result in a higher
grade OF candidates. II Will encourage
men who now have u distaste for politics.
because Of the methods they necessarily
ito allow their names TO be presented as
candidates for nomination.
The direct vote VIII make the action
cf the primaries much more representa-
live. Under present conditions many OF
I our best citizens viii not attend the pri-
4 mAries, because the only way they can
make their vote accomplish anything Is
u y voting one or other OF the rival states.
They have TO participate In machine poll
tics and their only choice Is which Of the
two machines they viii have
Tbs primary election law will make II
'smporsible 20 indulge IN ward politics as
Row practieed, Combinations can stiil be
made but Ihay will not swing the power
they now do. The greatest objection !
4 can see TO the direct primary TX In the
large number OF candidates who Will come
forward. thu consequent division of the
vote and the possibility that the uomi-
nsn Will have only a small percentage OF
the total vote. The splitting up OF the
& strength OF the party will leave an oppor-
UNITY TO concentrate strength upon some
undesirable candidate and nominate him.
This objection by no means counterhal-
thu direct primary"
Frederick Bausman. at is too early yet
e predict the working OF this law
A. everyone knows. what n excel
knt legislation on paper may be unac-
5 spantabiy bad In practice. As yet the
thing has been tried IN only one commun-
WI ind its apparent success there may
ditsnhH
'of course. favor some remedy for the
shNting defects Of our system Of nominat-
M, but ] should wish 20 consider this
substitute longer before approving It,"
WIZ III Morris: II have read the Mimi
ssesa election law. as published in the
Observation-Disclosures of December z i am
hcN and have always been IN favor -
= primary election law by which the
lFNpis shall vote directly for their par-
us nominees. The enactment hy our
lexisle iarv ~ direct primary election
isw should be non partisan aftair Such
law would bring about needed reform
II politics IN this state
Under our election law. IA II now ex-