The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-17
HE SEATTLE POST DECEMBER IL 1900

danger from the abuses which the direct
primary Is aimed to correct. Hence sucn
parties need no direct primary Tor tneif
own protection, and the general puoiic
should impose no unusual safeguards or
expenditures upon them. The dfrect
primary law should distinctly provide that
any party organization which has receiv-
ed 10 per cent. or more of the total vote
at the last preceding election must make
its nominations by the direct primary
plan in order to secure a place on the
official election ballot. The law should
with equal clearness provide for nomina-
tons by delegate or mass conventions
in the case Of any party organization
under the 10 per cent. limit. or OF any
new party organized to advance any
political principle. also for independent
nominations by petition, as at present In
protecting the whole people from the re-
suits of corrupting influences In the
choice OF candidates whose election Is
probable, there should be no injustice
done to men whose only appearance as
candidates Is for the educational advance
ment of principle. and with no expecta-
ton of election.
The above applies to the $40 as well
as the 10 per cent" objection. The cam
didates of party whose nominations car
ry with them a hope OF immediate sue
cess and consequent personal emoluments
can afford and should pay the cost of a
safeguarded direct popular choice as to
which shall be the party nominee.
The man who stands as a candidate
simply to represent principle and with
out hope of office or emolument should
not be called on to make an additional
financial sacrifice.
l do not believe there is any disposition
on the part OF any one to make the
direct primary a barrier to any minority
party, and In the framing of the details
OF the law am confident that no injus-
tice win be done In this respect.
In the matter of platforms of parties
compelled to adopt the direct primary
ever. vanishes upon close study I have
heretofore said that direct legislation is
the logical sequence OF the direct
primary" The former deals with meas
ures as effectively as the latter with men,
Under direct legislation party platform
making would cease to worry the politi-
clans. But as our conservative friends
decline to accept Populist principles, exc
cept on the installment plan, we must
needs continue to provide for PLATFORM
making.
Esrly IN each fourth year the usual
state conventions for the selection of
delegates to the national presidential
conventions are held. These conventions
should be charged with the additional
duty OF framing a platform defining the
party position on state questions, par
ticularly bearing on the election Of state
and legislative candidates at the ensuing
fall election. For the ION year" bi.
ennial elections state convention should
be called to frame platform defining
the party position for the congressional
and legislative selections that Novem-
err. These state conventions. one each
two years, In addition to the national
platforms, should be SUFFICIENT to define
the position of any party for any cleo
ton. In the cast OF municipal and coun-
~ elections they would be amply suffi-
Gent to secure and maintain party align
ments for nominating purposes The To-
cal issues involved and the position Of
candidates upon them can safely be left
to declarations in the petitions which are
necessary to secure the placing of any
man before the direct primary. This
method is well illustrated in the form OF
petition usually employed by citizens in
presenting candidates for school al
rector. briefly setting forth that for
which he IL asked to stand. For in
stance, the requisite number Of citizens
OF Seattle OF the party might
request the Hon. - representing
the "wide-open policy" extension OF fran
chises, etc., to stand as a candidate for
the ---- nomination for mayor. And
likewise other citizens might request Mr..
---. representing law enforcement,
municipal ownership, etc, to stand for
nomination as mayor of the
party. By this means. the men OF each
party participating In the direct primary,
although lined up under their national
and state platforms would by nominat-
ing petitions initiate and by the direct
primary decide the local issues which
they represented. OF course, as party
organizations are voluntary. there would
be reason why a city convention for
platform purposes could not be called
prior to the direct primary. but l believe
the method above outlined would give
best results.
With the making OF platforms provided
for as above, see no reason why the
direct primary should not apply In the
nomination Of all candidates of the major
parties for municipal, county. legislative.
state and congressional elections.
There are other objections, such as the
possibility of men of one party nominat-
ing for others. which seem to me to carry
their own refutation in the mere state
ment of them. Every such fraction OF
possibility of danger to the public from
this cause is overbalanced by the scores
of dangers and abuses of the caucus and
convention system.
GEORGE f. coTTERILL.