Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-01-17

LlOI do d uSIeSdIS. AS d consequence
be acts not for the voter, but serves {
bis own purpose instead. This fact |
in itself taints the trust from the out |
set, and poisons the system at its /
very source. No legitimate business /
could survive under system where {
authority to transact its vital matters
was delegated and re-delegated to I
agents and sub-agents, who controlled |
their own selection, construed their
own obligations, and were responsible
to nobody. I
From the very nature Of the case
such system must build up strong
central power. The opportunity
offered to acquire mastery OF party
nominations, thus controlling great
political organizations, and with them
patronage and legislation as well, was
certain to be seized upon by men pos
sessed Of the talent of combination,
manipulation and political manage
ment. Hence, today, it is we'll under
stood that the whole complicated busi-
ness is managed by central power,
from which emanates all orders, and |
convention are, in some mysterious |
way, quickly made subservient. This |
controlling power is the established |
political machine. It's overthrow is
always possible; but since it is the
| inevitable result and logical outgrowth
of the system, such overthrow can
only be temporary, and the machine
| will ho DIV n
a new machine constructed upon the
same lines and operated upon the
same principle of supreme authority.
1.-THE demand of the voter today is
clear and explicit. He asks that
there be restored to him the citizens
right to vote directly for the party
nominee of his choice. He asserts
that denial of this right, or doubt of
his ability to exercise it, is an i'm
parchment Of the principle upon
which state and national government
is based. There is no valid objection
which can be interpOsed to this
reasonable demand upon the part OF
the citizen, and submit that the legis-
lature should primarily address itself
to the business of framing law that
shall accord to him, in full measure,
the sovereign power of the ballot.
The plan of such legislation will not
be found difficult of practical applica-
ton. The details should be plain and
. simple. The specific provisions of such
legislation are to be determined by the
Legislature, not by the executive depart
! "a tl,O VI,
legislation should be so framed as to
insure to each voter an equal voice in
the selection Of the candidates of his
party, without let or hindrance on the
/ part of any man; accompanying this
: should be such provisions as will in
sure an accurate registration and de-
2 termination Of the will of the people
' as expressed in such primary election.
Y Care should be taken that sufficient
/ time be given the voter carefully to
/ consider the character and merits of
! each candidate seeking nomination at
} the hands of the people When this
o has been done. and not till then, the
+ mandate of the people, expressed at
6 the pools last November, will have
Z, Quoted under such a law will enable
every voter to express his personal
: choice by direct vote for the can
didates of his party. 1t will take of
his time but one visit to the election
booth, and but long enough while
there to mark his ballot.
, ''In the pursuit Of his regular oc-
: cupation day by day, in the quiet Of
his home under conditions the most
favorable for reaching a sound con-
! clusiOn, the voter will have time and
opportunity to form his opinion as to
the merits of the various candidates,
. and few moments. at the most, on
primary election day will be required
to record that carefully matured judg-
ment. How much more likely is the
citizen to attend upon a primary cleo
. ton under these circumstances than
to give up a considerable share of the
entire season in order to attempt to
express his preference through the
uncertain medium of an authority
delegated to one set of men selected
in one set of caucuSeS for county
other for state senators, another for
congressman, another for state Of
ficers, each followed by nominating
conventions; caucuses, and conven-
lions as well, a scene of confusion,
wrangling, dispute and disorder.
where weak men are badgered and
corrupt men are bought. l apprehend,
that very little time will be consumed
, on your part upon the objection that
| under a primary election nominations
would not be distributed with
reference to geography or nationality.
= When primary elections are held upon
the same day, there is no opportunity
for advantage by either party over
the other in this respect, and the
selection of candidates will be made
! upon considerations of greater i'm
portance to the people than either
the nationality Or place Of residence
of the candidates.
THE objection has been offered that
cities would be able to control as
against the country in a primary cleo
ton, because of the better opportunity
to poll a large vote where the popula-
ton is dense. 1t is scarcely fair to
make this objection as pertaining to
primary elections. 1t would be quite as
easy to poll a full vote in he country
in primary election as it is to get out
a representative vote to a caucus
under the present system, and it is no
more OF an objection against primary