Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1902-05-31
VIEWS OF PARTY LEADERS.
objections Pointed Ont by Men Ac
tive In City Campairu

Views OC fAhI1 LEADERS.
Objections Pointed Ont by Men Ac-
tive In City Campaign.
The opinions of the men in active con-
troll of the municipal campaign as show
ing the effects, weaknesses and benefits
OF the present law, are valuable. w B.
Webster, chairman Of the Republican
executive committee said:
10 certain extent, both parties were
Well satisfied with the operation of the
law in this city. It's trial here only dem
changes. Among the objections, to my
mind, is the fact that it destroys the Sc
crecy of the ballot, for every voter has to
disclose his politics. 1t tends to per-
petuate the power Of the man in office,
and the press practically can control
nominations. There is no provision by
which platform can be adopted"
c. r. Parker, chairman of the city and
county committee. said: eff state Off
GERS had been included in the operation
of the bill and the state convention to
nominate them done away with the
whole bill would have been killed In
this city, the Democratic nominee had
the entire influence of all municipal ap
pointeeS behind him and the same condi-
ton would obtain as regards the govern
or and other state officers. Combina-
lions under the primary system can be
ton plan. Under this system it practic-
ally amounts to a newspaper campaign
all through"
From Candidates Viewpoint.
T. B. Warner, one OF the Republican
candidates at the primary election for
mayor, in speaking from the standpoint
of a candidate for Office, stated in detail
some of the methods necessary to make
q campaign. He spoke of the immense
amount of advertising it was necessary
to do in order to properly get ones name
before the people by the use of newspa-
pers, cards, ETC., and in his judgment the
newspapers could make man or kill
him off.
Thomas D. O'Brien, Minnesota's rep
resentative upon the national Democrat
ic committee, favored the law. There
are no fundamental objections to the
law that cannot be remedied," said he.
1.-THE chief objections are that voter
has to declare his politics. 1t results in
better candidates, and the tendency is
to lessen the power of the machine and
prevent trading. / believe in keeping
power in the hands of the people,
However, party name should not be TAX
en- by individuals. A delegate conven-
ing a party platform could be held.
Destructive of Representative Gov
eminent.
G. D. O'Brieu, one of the most prom
inent attorneys of the city, was opposed
to the primary system and opposed to
doing away with conventions. Il re-
gard the entire system as destructive to
a representative form Of government
he said
l.. A. Lydiard, city clerk of Minneapo-
lis, said: SIN the city budget there was
penses and 1 estimate that the primary
election cost the city $4,000. This is
Just the city's share. | do not believe
that the plan will be extended to include
state officers. One great objection is
that it does away with conventions and
the people cannot be interested without
q party organization. Under the pri-
mary it is a matter of individual hustling
and besides there is no way to formulate
a platform if conventions are done away
with. In my opinion the tendency of
the law is to destroy party organizations.
We in Minneapolis have an effective
sample of what the primary can do
City Comptroller j. Rogers said that
the cost of the primary election to the
city was about $1,000.
G. L. e. Peterson. deputy comptroller,
said: 'It works an unusual hardship
upon candidates. The campaign eX-
penses are so much greater and the
newspapers have by far the best of the
deal because it gives them so great
power 1t requires lots of printing and
newspaper advertising.
Deputy County Auditor A. p. Erickson
said the cost Of the primary election to
Hennepin county, in addition to the
amount paid by the city of Minneapolis,
G. l.. Smity, assistant county attor
ney, in discussing the matter, admitted
the necessity of a convention to preserve
the party organization.
Favors Officeho1ders.
George c. Merrill, register of deeds of
the county, while favoring the law, adj
initted that it worked to the decided adj
vantage of the man in office, and from
the standpoint of party said that it was
impossible to balance the ticket.
County Treasurer d. G.. Bell took pro-
nounced stand in favor of the law and
was of the opinion that it worked well
and to the best advantage of the public.
Elijah Barton, chairman of the Demo-
cratic city committee, said: Il prefer 10
see the primary tried in local matters
further, before it is extended to state
affairs. There is a great deal of opposi-
ton in the state to it"
EX-Mayor w. II. Eustis expressed the
opinion that it would be better to first
try the system before extending its op-
Grafton.
The PRIMARY election in ST. Paul, ac-
cording to law, is held on the second day
of registration, and is conducted by reg
ularlyappointed election officers. Depu-
~ City Clerk e. e. McRea, when asked
to give statement of the additional cost
to the taxpayers of st. Paul entailed by
the primary election, said: ""There are
ia voting precincts in ST. Paul and the
cost was $12 per precinct for clerks. In
cidentals in the nature of clerk hire
brought the amount up to about $500.
The ballots cost about $500. Other ex-
tras and lncidentals aggregate, should
think about $500. These amounts are
in addition to what the ordinary cost of
holding an election would be. As the
registration boards were in session, the
amounts given are what I figure to be the
cost of the primary election. Under it's
operation there is no possibility of secur-
ing geographical or nationality selec-
ton of candidates. The total Republican
primary vote was approximately $780,