The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1901-11-14

OO1 a. LIOOS ul = ~ leoI ASOOLAAAS
as the Stevens bill, was the very
last to forsake the hope that
something might be done.
A chapter might be written
about other senators as well, but
why? The result is known, and
before long the decision will be
rendered and the verdict, if dam
age has resulted, will, no doubt,
place the blame where it belongs.
G.. E. VANDERCOOK.
Editorial Comment.
Under the heading 1.-The Wash
burn Experiment. the Sentinel
commented on Mr.. Vandercook S
article, editorially, as follows:
The staff correspondent of The
Sentinel who has been visiting i'm
portant points in northern VISION
sin for several weeks sends in from
Washburn a review of the method
adopted 10 that town for the election
of all officers. Judging from this
statement the Washburn people have
anticipated in practice the theories
of the trainers of the Stevens prim-
airy elections bill and have even ex-
perimented with ideas very much in
advance of those of the nomination
reformers. While the Stevens bill
people advocate the abolition of eau
cuses and conventions and the nom
nations of all candidates by direct
vote of the people, Washburn cit
liens now elect by direct vote
without the intervention of caucuses,
conventions or nominations.
While the operations of the Wash
burn plan, as described, are far from
being ideal either in method or re-
suit, the practice there has one de-
cided advantage over the Stevens
bill proposition. There is but one
campaign and one election. Any
man who can pay for printing tick
cts may be candidate, the result
being that at the last election there
were 800 different varieties of tick
cts, the entire number of tickets
printed varying from 700, 900 to 900, :
900 annually, according to the num-
Der of candidates, while the total
vote of the town is from l 300 to
l, 400. Naturally, the successful
candidate is rarely if ever the choice
of a majority OF the voters, in many
cases very insignificant minority
being successful in their efforts to
elect their man.
Under the primary election plan
proposed last winter candidate for
nomination would be required to Sc
cure sign. .tures to nominating
paper. but the state would pay for
printing the tickets. There would
be two elections instead of one, in
both cases the campaign being hot
and expensive. IT anything, the
campaign for the nominations would
be the most warmly contested of the
two and in such canvass the minor
politician, the man who has influence
in his ward or town, would be an i'm
portant parsonage. A few men Of
this character, combining their sup
port and influence, would play an
important part in the nomination of
candidates at a primary where min
critics rule, while the aspirant for
Office who disdains their aid would
be likely to find that the direct vote
nomination does not solve all of the
political problems that have troubled
the American states.
Experience at Washburn has dem
onstrateG that the men elected to
office without the intervent ton of
caucuses and conven tons are not of
a higher grade of intelligence or
public spirit than those who are
chosen under the old plan. There is
no reason to believe that primary
election nominations would result
While not improving
the personnel of the public service,
the primary elections would intro
duce an extra election with all the
disturbances incident
thereto. The first, or nominating
election would create animosities
within parties that would be carried