The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-02-08
FRIDAY. FEBRUARY S. 1901
PRIMARIES HERE AND ELSE
WHERE

The uuwfeldiness of the governing body
is at once The source of strength and
weakness OF Denocracies. The final
source Of power is the people, and as it
is obviously impossible for the people to
meet in common corclaye to pass laws,
from the city ordinance requiring side
walks to be kept clean 10 the tariff laws
that affect The wealth and growth of an
entire country. the exTedient of appoint
ing delegates has been in operation for
some two thousand years or more
But here in America We are experiencing
very much the same trouble that has
hanpered the welfare Of other penoc1n-
cies, namely, the failure Of tile people as
a whole to discriminate wisely in their
choice Of the officials to whom the gov
c,lllrlg power is entrusted. And this is
not due to the lack of intelligence on the
part of the people, Cor the history OF our
Presidential elections, and for that matter
The history of every great question that
mas been brought before the people. proves
Beyond al, peradventure that the people
do choose wisely and justly when they are
given the opportunity TO do SO and when
their interest in SO. doing is aroused.
But the 1nethod of nomination that en-
lists today, when a convention. composed
of Delegates who are chosen in a hap
hazard WAY at ward meetings or at list
Jess primaries. is practically one which
deprivcs the great mass of the people from
any real influence on the nomination of
The otficnls.
In The Southern States, where the nomi-
nation carries the election, it is of the ut
mos; Importance that the people be en-
courased 10 take an active part IN The
choice Of The candidate who is TO be
formally elected at the regular election
The trouble has been that most Of the
voting population are SO immersed in
business that the primary seems not to
be important enough 10 make a man
leave his occupation nnd so to the polls
except under some strong impulse and as
This impulse is oftea lacking. the primary
desencrates into a mere carnival sar ring
politics.
America and IS at present being dealt
with in Minnesota and Wisconsin. IN the
former State the city of Minneapolis has.
by act of Legislature. had Il special pri-
mary law passed for it. The first trial of
The new law vas remarkably encouraging.
More Than the total Vote cast at the pre-
,ious State election in that city was
solled. excellent candidates We're selected
and number Of aldermen who We're
chronic oflicc-se-.ers were sheiyed.
The Philadelphia Ledger, in commenting
on The Wisconsin primary law, says: 1T
is much more comprehensive than the
Minnesota measures applying To all can
d3dates except these for judiciary, village
township or school district Offices. The
primary elections are 10 be hold at the
-egul1t' polling places in every precinct.
All parties VII! vote on the same dav. each
Will have its ballot and the voter yiN
make choice of The party he wishes TO
slpaert. He may be challenged for any
inc,isibfli;y which would exclude his vote
at q general election and or the very
ground that he is not a member Of the
party whose ticket Hae desires to vote. lie
rnay qualify himself with respect to this
objection by simply making affidavit de-
claring that he is a member oe said party
and that he intends u vote its tickle. at
the next general or city election A can
didate, before he can be voted for at the
primary. must file at least forty days be-
fore The election Nomination i,ape, signed
ay at least 30 per cent of the voters on
his party IN the political division he would
represent These signers must be well dis
trihutcd over the jurisdiction. as speciii-
calsy provided in The bill. and no person
cam sign Cor mere than one candidate
There shall be a separate ballot for each
political party, upon which are placed the