The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1901-12-27
EXTRA SESSION
As Viewed By Republican of Van Buren,
County.

DeneNiuR III I'D De tue uuty, az Nch 10
the privilege, of every American citizen
to express himself on measures of vital
Importance affecting our state aud ma
ton, have taken the liberty, Mr.. Edi-
tor, to make known my views upon the
expediency of calling an extra session ot
the legislature To enact primary cleo
ton law for the entire state.
We have an old adage which says,
First sit down and count the c. ST"
have already done that: approximate
it will cost one penny for each Inh ibi
tant in the state or five cents for "a
average farmer Who, | ask, Vould a.
cheerfully contribute SO ) nal "A san "a.
order to take the nominating machl ,rr
out of the hands of the professional y "a
ticians and place it in the hands of ia.
people where it justly belongs The re
publican party must get closer to IA
people, if we wish To retain our grip CA
the state and nation.
Our last legislature failed 10 pass n
primary election law, aud u app az
do Ibtful whether such "A law can he
passed at a regular session | neli,vr u
wisest to cali them together for TIA
specific purpose and let them ,'aucent'ai.
their best thought aud III prt upon h
subject, and we will get law which M
not he a perfect one, but it Will be 81 =
i'm the right direction.
Lincoln said, II have one vote To Civ,
this | shall always east on tn sid
right, this is my privilege " Let IL.
hn # no mr. ar a n "a
regardless of party, cXurcSs our-r w.
along these lines and prevail upon Gov
Bliss To convene the Legislature Know
no boss except the condensed and eX
pressed opinion Of the entire electorate
Of our beloved state Other states have
passed similar bills, let Michigan Ike, p
abreast Of the times.
Talking few DAYS since in the pres
ence of a dozen or more politicians on a
question Of no small moment, | said, by
and b, the people will demand it" One
OF them laughed and said scornfully,
"People demand it? What good will that
do: they don't make the laws: they cant
do ANYTHING" politely informed him,
THAT the people can and will pledge
their representatives before being nomin-
atcd how they shall cast their vote on
certain measures " The primary election
law will still be better than "the above.
Each candidate can make known his
platform and the one whose views rep
resent the condensed opinion Of the
people can and will he chosen to repre-
sent them This consider far superior
to pledging a candidate perhaps against
his will.
Let the press of the entire state, whose
province it is to mould public sentiment,
take mp this matter and thoroughly dis
cusS it according to their own individual
views Give to the people all the advan-
tages and disadvantages that the primary
election law would bring to them, and, |
have no fear that the crystalzed senti-
pent will he strongly in favor Of a spe-
cial session aud the enactment of pri-
mary election law.
One Of the greatest objections raised
by the politicians is this, they say, "You
will place in nomination a minority can
didate" That this will be true in some
instances, do not deny; but let us dig
down and 90 to the bottom and see if
our present system does not place in
nomination minority candidates more
frequently than would be done by a pri-
mary election law. | will mention few
instances where, in my opinion, a minor
ity candidate has been nominated. In
1876 james q. Blaine, whose name and
fame is a household word in this repub.
lie, and whose craftsmanship has yet to
be surpassed, led in the national con-
vention up to the close of the sixth bal.
lot then Hayes was nominated by very
small majority. Again, in 1850 James A.
Garfield received but one vote on the
first ballot. Again, at the state conven-
ton in Grand Rapids the first ballot
stood; Bliss 259 Ferry 25l. Stearns DO
/ Osborn 81, O'Donnell ~, Campbell, ID
a wider diversity of opinion than these
would not occur with the primary cleo
ton law. Trading and promises Of poll
teal preferment bring the several fac
/ tons together, and the one who has the
/ shrewdest politician to manage his cam
/ paign receives the nomination. Space
will not permit of more extended argu
meut.
Men who represent the wi shes of the
/ people, men who have the courage Of
! their convictions, men who will attack
corruption in high places with hammer
and tongs like Theodore Roosevelt, need
have no fear Of being a minority candi
date when the will of the people is ex
pressed. 1t will compel the Office holder
who is looking for second term to dis.
charge his duties in favor Of the masses
who will then be pleased to say to him
"W ell done, good and faithful servant
| hope Gov. Bliss will heed the call OF
his constituents, for this legislation is as
sure to come as death is to all
A REPUBLICAN