The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-02

morning, in It's news columns careful
outline of what It believes is destined to
take precedence even OF the Australian
system as a measure OF political reform.
1t b known generally as the ''Direct Pri-
MARY" and its purpose II to secure the
nomination of candidates for public Of
fee by the people directly. without the
intervention OF the delegate convention
II n the first great movement to secure
real popular government. which the de-
veiopment Of the primary and Its Gus
on both sides have impaired 80 seriously.
The particular law whose essential fea-
lures We have reproduced was passed by
the legislature Of Minnesota two years
ago, relating 10 the conduct of primary
elections IN counties OF 100000 population
or over Under these terms II applied
only to Hennepin county. containing the
city Of Minneapolis. We shall present in
= later article q history of It's practical
operation there. as told by the story Of
the recent election. II is enough for the
present to say that It so thoroughly vim
dicsted itself that there Is general
ciamor for It's extension at least 70 the
other cities OF the state.
Brieny. the system ia this. In Mime
sota. ~ in most Eastern states. voters
can Be registered only on certain nxed
days.. the frst OF which falls Ave or six
weeks prior to the day OF election. On
that day the primary election is held. at
the same time and place as the general
election. and for all political parties at
once. A man who desires TO become a
candidate for. any office must present.
eleven days before the primary. petit
tiop signed by per cent. of the vote cast
for that office BY his party at the last
election After he has hled this. with
his affidavit that he wishes TO run. and
ton dollars. with the county auditor. the
law directs that his name shall be placed
upon his party ticket.
Ballots are prepared by the county for
tho primary as they are here for the
general election. except that there il a
separate ballot for each political party.
on which are arranged alphabetically the
names OF all persons who have announced
themselves, as prescribed above. as can
didates for each office As each voter
registers, a bunch OF ballots pinned to-
gether Ia given TO him, the bunch con-
tanning one ticket OF each party. He re-
tires TO the booth. marks his choice for
one candidate for each office on which
ever ticket he may select, but on one
only. and then returns the bunch OF all
the tickets. pinned together as he re-
ceived them. 10 the election officer, and
they are deposited in the box The ballots
are canvassed and returns made. as mn.
der the Australian Law. and IL more than
ono ticket In any bunch has been marked,
all are rejected. 40 that the voter can
express hts preference for but one party
ticket. The person receiving the highest
number Of votes for each oniee ON each
party ticket is made the oricial candidate
Of hts party for that position, and his
name n,ost be placed ON the ballot for
the general election. Just a. 10 he had
been nominated by a convention,
sry... ,x..a. - sh.. .x..,.,.. -.
SO cs>ious and 50 great as 10 suggest
themselves a, once 10 every mind The
abuses OF the primary, IN witch are con-
taip~a NEST Of the political abuses OF to-
day. are wiped cut, The delegate con-
sention. with he opportunities for trades.
~. ksrs, combines and eerrup, Influences,
disappears The voter. is no longer liu-
lied as he Is 30 oftcn now. to choice
between tao candidates. neither Of whom
b. acceptable 20 him, and IN whose nomi-
ration We feels that ne had no choice The
Feeals nominate candidates as well as
sate for them. II = the death-slow 70
an mscalnes rings and bosses, For u
aay political influence cannot secure a
saaiSrtty OF the VOTERS, u cannot set lis
candidates 50 mitch az named on tie bal.
lat. u St can gos their support then Il
sanao, ne called a machine, because -
represents the Wishes ~ a majority o,
tAe voters freely ana fairly expressed.
Css great aavantags Is iae restoration
- ,he primary 20 p0alie fayer anA eonn-
aeueO Il Is difficult ordinarily to Psr.
ssade the voter 10 SO 10 a primary cleo
tEea lie believes that the iae has been
sys 90 before baud and the delegates
named Ia private eoncIsvc with witch
he bad notning 20 90 And even when
ee votes Tor delegates, he knows moth
inG Of What they NH 90 vixen they &c,
tnto convsntsca and the palllax ana
haniius begins Under the airsct primary
Ia has Iaaas tbs vote count fes all lAai