The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1901-02-14
REFORMING THE PRIMARIES.

In his first message Governor Id rolietto
Of Wisconsin made many suggestions for
reforms. His plan for improving the meth
DDS at primary elections is specially worthy
OF notice. Under the present system the
political machine seems to be unavoidable
Mr. La Toilette proposes that the
system be changed by allowing the
voters to nominate their candidates direct
~, without a caucus or convention. Under
such plan the votes might be so scatter
ing that no nomination would result. 10
avoid this danger the governor suggests
that each voter shall name a first and
second choice for each office 1t no candl-
date has a majority of first choice ballots,
then the one having the largest number OF
first and second choice votes shall be de-
cared nominated. 1t Ia believed that the
cases would be extremely rare in which
this method would fail to result in nominal
tiOn.
Governor La Toilette points out the fact
that under the caucus and convention sys-
tenn. when there is large number OF cand1-
dates. the result seldom represents the
wishes of the voters. The nomination IS
reached by shifting, compromising, and
trading among the delegates, and 1T fire.
uuentty happens that the candidate finally
chosen is one whom the voters had scarcely
considered at all. Mn La Toilette be-
lieves his proposed system of direct nomi-
nation would more nearly represent the
wishes OF the peOple anu Wouiu w away
with the worst evils of machine rule.
Minneapolis already has such a system
and thus far it seems to work satisfactorily.
We hope that the legislature now in session
will extend the law to st. Paul. The
professional politicians of course, are not
in favor of such a change.-Broad Axe.
The politicians of Wisconsin are max
ing every effort to defeat this law. Peti-
tions in remonstrance against this bill
have been printed and are being indus
triously circulated in all parts of the
state.
The movement against the measure is
headed by federal officials and APP
pointees The people of many states are
learning that the place to initiate self
government or direct legislation is at
home in the smaller subdivisions of our
political system.
The same is true of public ownership.
The battle against private monopoly of
public utilities is best waged in village
or city first against some corporation
not yet strong enough to buy up a
national congress or a state legislature.
The people see the benefits to be gained.
They see the theory in practical opera
ton. Their dream becomes a reality
and they knock at the doors of the state
legislature or national congress for
more Of the same sort. This is the way
that will ultimately lead to a larger
measure of public ownership.
Every man who believes in tho nrin-
ciple of public ownership of public utili-
ties can do no greater service to the
cause than to look we'll about him at
home, select the nearest private mOnOp-
oily in city water electric light, private
telephone or street car system, interest
his neighbors by ceaseless agitation for
their public ownership and stick to ii
till the thing is done.
There is no time to be lost in these
matters. The great trusts are rapidly
consolidating all these little monop-
olies and soon they will be too powerful
to be overcome.
These great consolidated schemes are
in our opinion working toward final
public ownership of monopolies, but the
transition would be easier and more
natural if, meantime, had our towns and
cities already taken over their own To-
cal public utilities.
Let us wipe out a horde of the little
lnonopolies and there will be less work
remaining for the big trusts to do. 1t is