The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-12
FROM THE PEOPLE
AGAINST THE PRIMARY.

Seattle, Wash. Dec. 10. 1900.
To the Editor: Expression Of opinion
having been invited in your columns
to the merits or otherwise Of the Min
nesota primary law, which 1t is proposed
by some TO adopt in this state, have the
following 10 offer:
This law imposes an intolerable hard
ship upon numerically weak political
movements in three distinct ways
Firstly requiring each candidate to
pay into the public treasury the sum of
SIC
Secondly requiring 10 per cent. OF
either vote or signatures TO obtain official
standing.
Thirdly providing a means whereby a
numerically strong political movement
could. by capturing the nominations OF
weaker. thwart its purpose and smother
Its expression at the polls.
The essence of the law Is to restrict the
franchise. 1t Is strictly In line with the
DISTINGUISHING of the negro In certain
Southern states: the introduction of prop
erty qualifications in various state con-
situations and city charters. and the ef-
forts being made in some states TO length
en- zoe perfod between elections for iegis-
lative offices. The object of all this is
to accomplish covertly and By stealth that
which those responsible for il dare not
attempt In the open. l. e.. the disfra nchise-
ing of the working class. As our re-
public il COMMISSIONED upon the right OF
the citizen to freely and frequently ex-
press himself at the ballot box, any at
tempt TO thwart such expression Is a blow
aimed at our liberties. and must be
frowned down by every decent citizen.
IL these encroachments are 20 go I'M
challenged. all liberty VIII be lost.
The arguments offered IN favor Of this
precious law are worse than weak II
will not tend TO do away with the cor
ruption In politics. as some would claim.
but on the contrary It's passage would he
but additional evidence az that were need
ed) of that very corruption. The MEM
bers OF the legislature were not elected
upon any such issue. II they proceed 20
enact such an infamous measure IL will
be proof positive that they are being
used by some unseen influence. This
would SAVIOR OF corruption. 20 say the
least. IL there he corruption In politics,
and who can doubt IT when SO many aver.
the fault Is IN political parties. and that
from which they spring II Is no faux
Of the election laws OF the state OF
Washington. The election laws Of this
state insofar ms they pertain 20 the nom
ination OF candidates for public office. are
the best that obtain in any state In the
Union OF which the writer has any knowi-
edge. They could scarce be improved
upon.
For the state to interfere With the nom
ination Of candidates for public Office Il
an unwarranted assumption Of authority
that should not be tolerated. IL comes
disfinctly within the province OF free cigi-
xens. through their various political par
ties. A political party capable OF formn-
lating lines OF party policy. and incapable
o. nominating candidates for office with
out calling upon the state for assistance.
must be queer congiomeration OF
strength and weakness.
Those who are responsible for this pri-
mary law, and other schemes Of It's kind.
ought TO know that the standard OF In
teiiigence Of today and the means Of xtill
further extending Il are altogether too
ample to admit OF popular liberty being
successfully snothered BY petty schemes
Of still more petty legislatures.
Well for them and those who stand BE-
hind them and whose tools they are. II
they refrain from attempting 30 stlfie the
free expression Of the popular will in the
settlement Of the mighty economic prob
lens which are forcing themselves upon
Us and demanding solution
E T. KINGSLEY.