Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-04-17
WEDNESDAY, APRIL II, 1901
the PRIMARY ELECTION LAW.

w EDNESLA1 AfRlL l9UI.
the PRIMARY ELECTION LAW.
When the peoples party of Kandi-
yohi county last fall adopted the plan
of direct nominations by the people
the politicians on the other side de-
nounced it as a deep laid scheme of
the "TR1BUNE gang'', and they act
ually scared number of people into
believing that it was against the IN
terests of the country districts, and
made it neces sary to retain the town
representation based on past party
votes. We fought for direct nominal
tions by popular vote, irrespective of
past party strength in the different
towns, believing that the only way to
check bossism is to give the people
some object for turning out at the pri-
maries.
Our position has been endorsed by
the legislature of the state. The Dunn
primary election bill does away with
conventions for nominating city,
county, Legislative and congressional
candidates. The machine proved too
strong when it came to the state Off
GERS. The office-holders did not dare
to leave that to the people. But a
long step in the right direction has
been taken. The following are the
main provisions of the bill:
The primary or nominating election
is fixed on Tuesday seven weeks be-
fore the election at which the candi-
dates nominated are to be voted for
and the same day is fixed as the first
day of registration. No elector may
vote at the primary election unless he
be registered.
The method of securing places on
the primary ticket is extremely simple.
The aspirant for Office is obliged only
to hle his name and pay fee. At
least twenty days before the primary
election day any person who may be
eligible to the Office which he seeks
may file with the secretary of the state,
if the Office he seeks is voted for in
more than one county, or with the
county auditor if it be voted for in
only one county, his name together
with an affidavit setting forth that it
is his bona fde intention to run for
the specified Office. If the Office
sought be district office the candi-
date is required to pay to the secre-
tary of state fee Of 500; if voted for
in single county to the county audi
tor fee of $40. Candidates seeking
nomination to Offices without cOmpen-
sation are not required to pay either
fee.
Fourteen days before the primary
election county auditors are required
to group the names of the candidates
filed with them, according to political
parties, and have separate tickets
printed for each party. The method
of voting is exactly the same as en-
ployed at general elections under the
Australian system. Every registered
elector is entitled to a vote, but unlike
the present Hennepia law, he may re-
ceive only the ticket of one political
party, and if challenged must swear
that the ticket which he wishes to vote
is that of the party whose candidate
he generally supported at the general
election next preceding and whose
candidates he proposes to support at
the coming election.
The ballots are to be canvassed by
the judges of election in the same
manner that the ballots cast at general
elections are canvassed, except that
the tickets of the several parties shall
be canvassed separately. The tally
sheets compiled after the Australian
system are to be returned to the county
auditor and by him to canvassing
board, which is required to meet
two days after the primary election.
The canvassing board shall consist
of the clerk of the district court, the
county auditor, the chairman of the
board of county commissioners and
two justices of the peace of different
political parties, to be selected, if
possible, by the Judge of the district
court; provided, however, that none of
the members of the board is a candi-
date for nomination at the primary
election. In that case he shall be re-
placed by an elector to be selected by
the Judge of the district court.
Any electOr who was candidate
for nomination at the primary election
and was defeated may not secure a
place on the official ballot by petition
Undoubtedly the law will need some
notifications in the future. Expert
ence will show where there are any
flaws, and these can be remedied later
on. The point of vital Importance
was to- leave in the hands of the peo-
pie as far as possible the selection of
candidates, and do away with the trad
ing for nominations as practised
under the old plan. The new system
will create more interest among the
people regarding the selection OF
candidates. They will have to post
themselves on the different candidates
and decide between them, instead OF
simply taking delegate ticket from
the hands of the local boss. Whatev-
or causes the people to- study and dis
cuss men as we'll as measures has a
tendency to make better citizens, and
is therefore q thing to be desired in q
democracy. n. Il 4. 4 a. s.. ST
We have not seen the law complete,
but II the above resume, clipped from
an exchange, is correct there is one
serious error in the law: it disfran-
chises the manwho changes his party af-
.6liations between two elections. Aman
certainly ought toh have arightto change