The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-04-05
MORE FRIENDLY.
Better Disposition Shown To-
ward Primary Election Law.
Some Senators However, Would Have
Been Pleased to See il Killed With
Amendments.

by the Minnesota house of representa-
tives, was again before the senate, as
a special order.
Senator Roverud wanted the bill
referred to committee of five to
amend it so that it would apply only
to county, city and legislative candi-
dates.
Senator Shellbach sent up as substi-
tute providing that the bill should not
apply to counties of over 100, 900, and
that it should be limited to county
officers and to city officers in cities of
10, 900 and over His intention was
simply to kill the bill. He claimed
that the experience in Hennepin
county had shown that politicians
could be more fair than the people
generally in apportioning the offices.
| Senator Wilson admitted that as a
matter of fact, the election in Min
neapolis had shown that it would be
possible under the primary system to
select all the county or city officers
from single ward and he did not
know just how this could be remedied
On the whole, however, he believed
that the offices would generally be
distributed fairly. If the country
members did not want the bill the
city members should vote to exempt
the outside counties But the cities
should have it anyway.
Senator Roverud thought it best to
try the law on the county and city
offices first. No one could tell how it
would work in the country. If it
worked we'll on the local offices it could
easily be extended. He was willing
that it should be applied first to the
Legislative, county and city officers,
but he did not believe it should extend
to state or congressional candi dates as
yet.
Senator J. D. Jones declared him
self in favor of the bill, but he wanted
it made clear as to how the party or
ganization should be maintained. He
made vigorous protest against the
members who were supposed to be
opposed to the passage of the bill be-
ing posted in black type in certain
paper as enemies of good legislation.
The members should have right to
come here and represent their consti
tuents according to their best judg-
ment without being subjected to I'M
fair criticism from a certain class of
journals In his remarks on the news
papers in his district he had referred
only to a certain class. The legitimate
newspaper men in his d istrict were
his friends.
Senator Shellbach, returning to the
attack upon the bill, said that instead
of eli minating the CRATER and the
ward heller from politics, the primary
bill would only serve to fit him more
firmly in the saddle and extended the
field of his operations. The bill was
really in the interest of lot of Office
holders, who could perpetuate them
selves in Office through the committees,
which under the bill would perpetuate
themselves by naming their own sue
cessors.
Senator Snyder disputed this propo-
sition. In Hennepin county, the
CRATER and heller had been eliminat-
ed. His usefulness had ceased because
the making of nominations went di
rect to the people, and the election
could not be manipulated through
few as had been done in the past I'M
der the old system.
Senator Brewer, favored the bill,
but he wanted it to apply to all officers
from the governor down.
Senator Snyder had the Roverud
amendment amended so as to leave
Hennepin county as it is now under it's
present law, but that was useless
because the Roverud amendment was
voted down, after the Shellbach sub
stitute had been killed.
At noon the senate found itself with
only two amendments disposed of and
an armful on the lieutenant governors
desk confronting it. so the considera-
tion of the temperance bills was post
poned until tomorrow afternoon, and
the special order continued until this
afternoon at 2 80.
Throughout the discussion there
appeared to be more friendly DISPOSE
tion toward the bill, though many of
the country members were opposed to
it in its present form. Senator Nc
Nance was the only member who was
thoroughly angry. He took up clip
ping from a morning paper, stating
that if the bill was defeated it would
be by the minority members of the
senate, and naming him as one of the
members opposed to it. The statement
was absolutely false. He was the only
member from Ramsey county who
voted for it two years ago, and he was
supporting the measure now. He
wanted it to apply to all officers, but
he should vote for it, whether it was
limited to few or not.
81 don't know Democrat in St.
Paul who is not in favor of the meas
ure, said he. EVERY practicalDemo-
cratic politician knows that if we do
not pass this bill we will not have a
ghost of show to elect a mayor next
year "
The amendments attached yesterday
are of no special Importance, with
one exception. Elective park, libary
and scnool board officers in cities of
80, 900 or less are excepted from the
operation of the act by an amendment
from Senator Barker. An amendment
from Senator Schaller provides that
candidates for officers affording no
compensation shall not be required to
pay nomination fees The only change
not approved by the leaders of the fight
is from Senator Ives, inserting instead
of the provision for declaration of
party utilization when challenged the
words to receive ballot of the politi
cal party (which he suggests. but can
receive but one ballot of one political
party.
The latter amendment was offered
for the ostensible purpose of secrecy
in the primary choice, but has been
criticised by friends of the measure as
being less desirable than the original
wording of the bill, and will be re-
considered.
The debate upon the bill opened at
II o'clock yesterday morning, continu-
ed until after 10 o'clock, was taken up
again at 2 80 o'clock and continued
all the afternoon until 6 o'lcock. AL
most before the order of business was
announced amendments began to
pour in, and the opposing members
kept un the fire all daY This COM