The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-03-07
THE AUSTRALIANS BALLOT en-
THE PRIMARY.


The first trial was so very 6isappoint-
ing in some particulars that probably
tens of thousands of voters favorable 70
the change in SYSTEM were so disap-
pointed. IL not disguised. that they felt
that 1t was better to continue the oil
plan than to adopt an unsatisfactory
new system or plan. That the primary
election movement has hosts Of friends
and is very important cannot be well
doubted. The country is full Of its
friends and nearly all the states are
trying IL.
Il IL beyond fair question that for
honest. fair elections. there has BEEN
nothing devised or tried equal to the
Australian ballot system. with which
Americans became somewhat familiar
several years ago. It is said that every
state in this union but two is trying it
OF has tried it The trouble has been
in workin ii satisfactorily IL the de-
termined partisanship that exists.
South Carolina and Texas have not
adopted or tested 1t. The states are
but fou hat have shut out PARTISAN
ship and adopted the system pure and
simple. They are all southern, nancy:
Virginia. Alabama. Mississippi and
Florida The new system wnen prop
erlv tested has proved highly satisfac-
tory. There is a distrust of legislatures
as there is Of party ~manipulators. A
direct vote Of all electors Is regarded
a. the best cure for corruption and
bribery. Some Of the northwestern
states have abused the law n increda-
ed public distrust. An English born
New York rum in this wise:
This charac er OF our NUM- |
cipal an legislatures is compara-
lively n &c il Is largely due to
The dire, uptng influence of our
Vest conn., .Ial interests. represented
by corporations and o her great COM
and ability and capital, and
has grow with their growth"
He says Minnesota mas the best pri-
mary election law of all states. It is
1t requires 1.-THE nominal
ton of county. municIpal. and judicial
and to members of the lower
house Of congress-; that the elections
for all parties are held simultaneously,
as in the case of general elections, and
that the primary election day is also
he first for the registration of voters
for the regular election"
Many states thus far have only pro-
vided for halfway measures. They do
not compel but allow the party COM
to determine whether there
shall be a primary held or no. Georgia,
Kentucky. Mississippi. South Carolina
and Texas have something like a pri-
nary law. they do not compel the pri-
naries to be held. Some OF tine northern
states furnish sad examples of party
corruption and outragGs up / the hal
o., as we'll as corrr otion Of legisla-
.ures. The writer in The Forum. Mr..
Albert Watkins, after making a
special study of the widely spread
movement in The American states. has
his and it shows how hard it is for
%.ntrenched corruption to do right and
,e trusted:
Experience, then, would seem to die
ate tht primary election laws should
become general and be- made compre-
lensive and compulsory-unless. indeed.
he objections to them should outweigh
heir good works.
Governor La Toilette. of Wisconsin,,
lad advocated a comprehensive pri-
nary election measure for three years
'efore his nomination. and the conven-
ION which nominated him declared I'M
C~ulVocally for 1t. In The ilercs con-
est over the governor S primary bill
n the legislature, whose members were
hoSen at the same tinle as he was and
d decisive majority of his
reform party. all conceivable
bjections to the measure were ad-
uced."
The party system has not always
uled for the best. And yet there have |
cen always two parties since the 5
government began, and it {
'oks now that if two parties do not l
in this country our republic
ill be destroyed and II will drift into ,
ratio. as personal az Russia or as c
will finally become with it's :
ankering after mediaevalism with all
[ lis cruelties and expressions. The t
end is Enthusiastically away from the I
asic principles Of the wise fathers as i.
nbedded and enforced in the consti- =
that was adopted by separate t
otes Of the original states. The drift e
TO q different form, a different sys- .
IN of government. to a monarchy first I
nd then to a personal autocracy. The
says. and it SHOWS he under :
ands n perceives the very serious
epartures already made-"After a :
evolution-rapid enough. {
to be called r~evolution-of d.
opular government. there still remains
t least a spark of vitality, ETC."
If this country would adopt the AUS
-alian system in all particulars. to be
pplied to all elections. and would have
primary system purged and per-
ected. 1t would benefit ell. both states
the people. Nj. Watkins is per-
uaded that the peotle must become
lore active in elections. That is to
az az he contends and ura haIieyal