The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1901-01-17
NOW in The LEAD
NEW YORK ACTIVE IN ERHORTS TO
HAVE MINNEsOTAS PRIMARY
ELECTION LAW.
SIXTEEN OTHER sTATNS ALSO DE-
SIRE TO FOLLOW NORTH STAR
STATES EXAMPLE,.

SIRE TO FOLLOW NORTH STAR
STATES EXAMPLE.
New York has taken the lead among the
16 states that are making an attempt to
operative In their states. and the fight for
the adoption of the system in that state
Is now warm one. with headquarters in
Buffalo, Rochester, Brooklyn and New York.
The latest weapon secured by the New
York promoters Is pamphlet issued by a
body OF men interested in the work in
Brooklyn. and 1t Is q most exhaustive one.
The pamphlet contains a complete descrip-
tion of the working of the Minnesota law
at the last election, and also reproduction
OF the tickets used in Minneapolis, with the
addition that before each name on the tick
cts Is printed the vote each received at
the primary.
These pamphlets are being issued Ly the
thousands, and with others are assisting in
the work.
Showing what they think of the working
OF the new system In New York city may
be CLEANED from the following extracts from
the pamphlet in question:
The people who attend and control pri-
maries are mostly Office holders and office
seekers. II an ONCE holder expects 70 re-
main In favor with the leaders of his party
to whom he IL perhaps indebted for his
position and to whom he is looking for
advancement. he is expected livery often
against his inclination) to attend the pri-
mary and publicly show his regularity"
The opportunity for public employment and
its generous em0lument also draws to the
primary q certain number who realize that
1T Is necessary to secure the support of
the leaders and the organizations in order
to secure political appointment This in
sures steady regular attendance of tho
same persons. The we'll known result Is
that the delegates attending the conventions
are selected each year by the same people
for the purpose of carrying out the will
OF the organizations who have before hand
made 1t their business to announce the can
didates. The people elect the candidates,
but do not nominate them. and as a nomi-
nation must precede an election the logical
conclusion Is that the people should also
nominate.
The first trial of the direct vote method
for nominating public officials was recently
made In Minneapolis. The outcome Of this
first trial of the new primary law was look
ed upon with considerable apprehension on
the part OF its advocates, and also by the
politicians and their friends who had Wig
orously opposed it's adoption. Up to the eve
OF the primary only a moderate attendance
was anticipated.
A very serious objection to the law and
one worthy of consideration was to TIE
effect that the confusion created BY having
the day Of registry and the nomination Of
candidates at the same place and at the
same time would be so great tiat 1t would
be impracticable to combine the two Fail
ure was predicted. but the results in at
tendance and working proved the law an
unqualified success.
With the rank and file of the citizens OF
Minneapolis the law is looked upon as hav-
ing come to stay, and as the greatest re-
form legislation ever enacted for the puri-
fVlnR of American jCina1
The direct vote method in New York city
would place before the people candidates
for the nomination about whom they could
inform themselves and endeavor to learn
their reasons tor asking the support of their
fellow citizens for the nomination. The
experience in Minneapolis has proven that
only men of the highest reputation and
standing in the community. could be SUCCESS
full in securing the support Of enough citi-
zens to make their nomination assured
The foregoing, from a Minneapolis
Republican daily, shows that Populist
teachings are bearing fruit even in old
party strongholds.
This Minnesota primary election law
is Populist idea put into practice by
the Republicans
1t is step in the right direction 1t
is an effort among Republicans to get
rid of party bosses, ring rule ward heel
ers and caucus and convention nomi-
nations.
1t is an admission from the old parties
that another phase of Populism is
good thing. They scott at us while they
appropriate our goods. They call us
cranks and adopt our ideas.
Populists are everywhere getting in
their work. Think of Is states tumbl-
ing over each other to take their first
lesson in Populism. One step more and
one of the old parties will take up the
imperative mandate. '~.-r."
II the people are to take away from
the politicians the power to name candi-
dates, why shouldn't the people have
the power to recall unfaithful represent
atives? This is the imperative man
date, this is Populism. If the people
have the power to name their represent
atives and to recall them, why not let
the people veto any bad law they may
make by direct vote? This would be
the referendum; this would be direct
legislation; this would be putting in
practice the vagaries of those crank
Pops. Perish the thought! All COOL
things are supposed to proceed out Of
the Republican party here in the North
and from the Democrats in the South.
We don't care where these reforms
proceed from if they only proceed We
would appreciate a reform that was
genuine even though it originated with
Mark Hanna.
We shall ever stand ready to applaud
and pat on the back any man who pro-
notes the principles of self-govern-
ment, pure democracy, or, what Pop
ulists ARE pleased to call direct legis-
latiOn. e. A. T.