The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-25
OTHER PEOPLES NOTIONS
Needed Amendment for Primary av

Needed Amendment for Primary Law. e,
To the Editor Of The Journal.
The new law for the nomination of GER
tain officers has had a very good test at
the last primary election in this state, and,
if we are to judge by the number present
at the polls, it may be said that the people
were fairly represented and that much
greater interest was elected than under
the former caucus system of nominating
candidates..
If, however, this law Is to be continued
in force in this state, it seems absolutely
necessary that some further and stronger
provisions must be placed therein to pre-
vent the voters of one party from par
ticipating in the selection Of the candi-
dates for the other otherwise the sooner
we return to the. old system the better it
will be for the morals of the people in
general and the2 publication Of political
methods in particular.
- It is true that an attempt was made
in the new law to avoid the errors in the
old. by which the democrats of Minne-
apolis were able to dictate the nomination
the results these provisions are very in
adequate to prevent such tactics on the
part Of designing politicians.
1t Is very apparent that in a number
Of counties in the state where there were
no opposing candidates on the democratic
ticket large numbers OF democrats and
populists voted the republican ticket. A
notable example of this may be found in
Nicollet county in the third congressional
district in, which from 800 to 400 demo-
Gratis and populists attended the primaries
and asked for and voted the republican
ticket. In the city Of st. Peter there
seems to have been an organized plan
to vote the democrats; official challengers
for the republican party were selected
in the interest OF one OF the candidates
for congress, these men absolutely ref used
to challenge well known democrats as
they came to the polls, and every effort
was made to prevent challenges by any
outside party; the result was that in one
ward OF that city nearly 100 democrats
voted the republican ticket, and in an
other in the neighborhood Of fifty or more.
This is not disputed by any one there,
and in fact the recorded vote shows 120
more republican voters in the city than
at the last presidential election, notwith-
standing the fact that there are less re-
publican voters in the city at this season
of the year Con account OF absences for
various causes) than. at the time Of the
general election. ; - 4 .....-.
We may not blame the democrats how
ever so much as those who awaited them
selves Of their support, as there is no
doubt that the large vote in st. Peter is
directly attributable to the urgent and
personal solicitations Of one of the can
didates for congress and his friends; al
though in cases where some Of these
democratic voters swore in their votes
the solicitation must have been reinforced
by something stronger to satisfy their
| consciences and accomplish the result.
This state Of affairs is not confined tc
any one county, but it is now absolutely
certain that such practice has occurred in
many Of the voting precincts in the state
| and in every case it IS accounted fol
I through solicitations from the candidates
ron the other side This seems to be the
strongest objection to the primary sys-
| tenn and it is suggested that to remedy
this in part, at least, very strong pro-
visions be added to the present law pun.
ishing any candidate or person. who in any
manner solicits the vote at the primaries
of a person known tosbelong to the oppo.
| site party.