Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-03-07

To secure the best possible govern
ment requires the expenditure of
money. Organization Of anything is
expensive. but no man for that reason
dare say at this age that the principle
OF the organization of governments IN
+, der the representative system is bad.
To make nominations even under
the caucus and convention system re-
quires the expenditure of large
amounts of money, not only such as is
| necessary in the dispatch of legiti-
mate political business, but oft times
for the expense of manipulating cor
ruptly such caucuses and conventions.
This expense must eventually come
from the people through some channel
or other. These men who manipulate
corruptly the caucuses and conven-
tons would not make the expense to
themselves and would not be in favor
of so doing unless they could finally
be more than recompensed. That the
people pay all of such expense and
more, by some manner or means, is
certain; perhaps by reason of I'M
scrupulous public officials; perhaps
by the distribution of patronage and
offices, or IN some other Of the many
ways known only to the professional
politician.
There were cast at the last election
in the state of Wisconsin 442,S94
votes. It is estimated that the cost of
holding primary election would be
about $4,000 as has been represented
and shown to you in the speech of Mr.
Adams. This would result in a total
cost to each and every individual
voter of all parties at the primary
election of about six cents, so
ridiculously small to each and every
citizen that it hardly seems possible
than an intelligent person would dare
argue before an intelligent body of
men that the expense of conducting
primary election is an argument
against the proposed measure.
Pray tell me where is the good citi-
zen of this great state of Wisconsin
who would decline for a single moment
to pay the sum of six cents to get the
ODpOI W UldhC llS uOueSG uH-
preiudiced direct choice for party nom
inees of his political party. Pray tell
me where is the intelligent citizen who
is so short sighted that he would rather
not pay this six cents for such right
than have the trouble and expense o.
attending five or six caucuses in sin
gle season in order to attempt to desig-
nate his choice for the nominations
and policies of his party.
Where is the good citizen of this
commonwealth who would not be will
ing to pay this sum to further the ex-
tention of the benefits and blessings OF
popular government. Is there any sane
man within the borders of this great
state who would not be willing to con-
tribute the few cents necessary for the
expense of conducting Primary EIec-
ton for the nomination of all candi.
dates, thereby making himself the
equal of every citizen in that respect,
rather than deliver his authority and
power as an Independent citizen over
to others, his opinions to be misrepre-
sented by them and his interests traded
and bartered for the interests of par
ticular individuals.
Will Number of Candidates Increase.
1t has been suggested by the oppo-
nents of this measure that it will in
crease the number of candidates for
public office and party nominations.
Suppose it does, the better will we be
able to choose correctly, and neither
will we be obligated to turn such choice
over to others, but each of us. and
every voter will exercise his right of
choice directly. But will the primary
system increase the number of candi-
dates? I think not
1t will for one thing certain, elimi-
nate the tool or machine candidate.
The mere local candidate will also be
out of the race, because if locality be
all that a candidate has to appeal to a
people with, he himself will see the
uselessness of the effort. Hence ap-
plying reason to the question, it seems
that a citizen will not waste his time
in being a candidate for party nomina-
ton unless he has something within
himself which makes him truly great
and efficient man, and unless he be
called by them for such reason on ac-
count of some valuable past public
services rendered in his previous ca
reer, and by which he has distinguish
ed himself for his honorable conduct
and genuine ability.
AS an Illustration, how about the
number of candidates for the judges of
our courts, who are usually nominated
by petition, which eliminates the con-
vention system, and the candidates are
then voted for directly by the people
at our spring elections? These posi-
tions are desirable ones and many men
wish the honor, yet there are seldom
over three candidates at any such
election.
Attendance at Primaries.
Since nominees of one party or the
other are eventually to become public
officials, it is, as l have said of prime
Importance that good men be nomi-
mated. In a republican form of gov
eminent the will of the people is the
supreme power. To secure good nori-
nations with consideration of the peo-
pies will, it is necessary that the PEG.
pie in the most practical way possible,
give full honest expression of their
choice candidly, and after considerate
judgment Any system which permits
nominations without such considerate
action on the part Of the people en-
dangers republican government, be-
cause it is destruction to the most vital
principle of such a government