Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-05-16


that the people proposed take charge Of the business gov
for themselves 1t manifestly right plainly
necessary representative government from absolute
overthrow BY machine CONTROL which always minority
troll that quickly received the approval of the thoughtful
patriotic citizenship of the without respect party ALI
Clearly understanding the meaning and full scope OF their
action each of the great political parties of the sae demo-
1898 and the republicans in 900adopted in their
spcve Platforms without qualification or limitation the pn
cipe for the nomination of all candidates by direct
people primary election in lieu of nominations by delegates
through the machinery of caucuses and conventions.
In every republic the laws very certain be made and
administered by the representatives of political party 1t
therefore becomes question of deep citizen
determine with what party he will affiliate This alimpor-
him, and guide him in deciding political parties pre-
sent their purposes and their promises perform the dec
laraons adopted the party's pledge platform. This is
offered to the for his consideration.
Otherwise he know for what kind of he
is casting his 1t is contract pure and simple The
party which adopts it. the candidate who accepts nomination
upon it. is soemnly bound by its obligations. If he in
accord with he has neither moral political right to be
candidate To stand the candidate of part agreeing
with its PLATFORM solicit the sufrages of the citizen and
when elected violate the promises of that platform cheat
and betray the voter 1t evasion unworthy OF the grave
character of this great question that the constituent
the Independent Judgment of his representative In those
matters to which the party and its representatives have been
pledged he has right afterward Independent
Judgment If he has independent opinions in conformity
with his party platform he should them before the party
and the voter have accepted him the representative of the
principle embodied in the platform. As to those matters is
late to talk of independent Judgment That for which
he standthe declarations and promises of his party the
pubicis sacred public trust and to its faithful execution
a and public official he is in honor bound.
These observations submitted because the consideration of
legislation control in any party nominations embraces
within its scope and emphasizes in marked way the relation of
political parties government of the citizen to his political
party and of the public official his constituent his party and
the These relations and the obligations imposed must in
of special Importance be defined by platform declara
tons This imperative in state where
the issues not political that which distinguishes
where national politics involved In matters of national
legislation and national administration political policies
peced control The issues clearly defined all the prn
cpa subjects of legislation This would be generally in
the absence of platform declarations The traditions of parties
and the fundamental principles upon which they
lied point the way they certain For these
the does feel bound consider so critically the
strucon of the national platform of his party unless there be
incorporated in and unorthodox party creed But
legislation deals with the subjects of taxation the main
and regulation of system of Jurisprudence the
port and for the charitable and penal Institutions the
and development educational system the regulation
of banking and Insurance. and other purely domestic affairs
where political division impossible Indeed it may be said
that substantially all legislation strictly nonpartisan in
character Hence if political lines cannot be drawn in the
legislature because the subjects of legislation not POLITICAL
then anticipate what action will follow the cleo
ton given of officials upon the matters in which he Is
deeply interested excepting the candidates are com
mitted in advance by pledges of the respective parties IL
therefore becomes imperative that the proposed policies OF state
should be clearly defined in platform declarations
and fully presented the people of the state that they may
decide by voice what kind of state government
have and far practicable what laws are 10
be enacted and what general policies shall be pursued
During and following the War of the Rebellion, when ma
tiona issues overshadowed all else the platform little
more than an of the national platform But IN
later wears it has acquired its distinctive and individual char
ace this observe the declaration made by the dom
nant this in 1900 upon the subject under cosd
Grafton
"The great reformation effected in general elections
Through the Australian ballot inspires with confidence APP
method in making nominations so that every voter
may his sovereign right of choice by direct vote with
out the Intervention interference of any political agency
therefore demand that and conventions tor the
nomnation of candidates for office be abolished by legislative
enacment and that all candidates for state legislative con
gressiona and officers be nominated at primary cleo
on upon the day by direct under the Australian
"ballot.'
If this pledge anything it means -
The abolition nominations by and convention
That every voter shall directly for the candidates OF
his choice a a primary election
2 That all candidates for state legs'are congressional
and coy Offices shall be nominated BY direct vote at primary