The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1902-11-01

The people will take the same interest
In nominating candidates which tney
take in electing officers il given the same
chance. Our voters are intelligent
They well know that all government be-
gins with the nomination Of candidates
Meyer author Of nominations by Di-
reCt Vote says:
III there Is any absolute statement
which the writer is ready 10 make, re-
speeding any argument bearing on direct
primaries il is that the direct vote sys-
TEN 5ocs not bring out larger vote.
At thc Scranton county Republican pri-
marirs OF 1900 over 1900 votes were
cast. which is 1000 votes less than the
total strength Of the Republican party.
In Cleveland, o., Jl73 votes were cast
az Republican caucuses in 1893. In 1894,
under direct primaries, the vote was near
ly three times ais large. In 1896 four
times as many voted and in 1899 over
five times as many, showing nm increasing
interest Df voters over a period OF seven
years under primary elections. Cleye-
land, O., probably has the most faulty
primary election law now in use any
whore. vet three times have the voters Of
that city, on submission 10 them, by an
ever Increasing vote declared that they
would not return to the old caucus and
convention system
Thus. IL il is conceded that the number
Of candidates for Office in the field would
be increased under a primary election
law, which experience seems 20 disprOve,
the successful candidate would represent
larger constituency, have much
greater number OF votes back Of him than
under existing methods.
Minority Candidates.
Consider the relative merits Of a pri-
mary election plurality and n convention
majority. Ia the recent primary election
Ia Minneapolis the successful candidate
for the Republican nomination for Con-
gress received 10000 votes He had two
opponents, who received 5000 and 5000
respectively. He was thus nominated
by a plurality or minority vote. Now,
even II il were admitted that caucuses
TO select delegates 10 q congressional
convention would have called ont 2l,vOO
voters, what would have been likely 70
happen In the c0nveutiOnf What does
happen right along In conventional 1t
is an inherent fault of the caucus and
convention system that so far as express
ing the VIII Of the people - concerned,
weaker candidates, that is, candidates
with less votes, must, for self prescrya-
ton. even II for no better motives, com
bine against the candidate who leads.
More often than not, a plurality in n
convention operates against the chances
representing the choice Of only OOOO or
5000 voters is sclectci instead OF one
representing the real choice,
The advocates Of cauCusrs and con
yeutiOns raise no objection TO the election
laws on the ground that plurality may
elect officers, il is only on minority noml-
nations that they are so sensitive. our
statute provides that In all cases and
under all circumstances the man VINO
receives the highest vote FOR an office
shall be declared elected 10 that office,
even though he received but a plurality.
All the Presidents OF tho United States
since Grant, except Mckinley, have been
elected by a minority vote. Gov Smith,
GOV. Rusk, Gov Hoard, Gov. Peck
were all elected by a minority vote, II
government endures with the election or
officers from the President down, by
plurality vote, We can occasionally stand
pIuSality nomination under direct vote
by all the people. Better an honest
plurality, representing the honest JudE-
ment OF O large constituency, than a
uachine-mnde convention majority
" hich expresses the will OF only q small
coterie Of political bosses.
Strange Concern for Country Voters.
The opposition platform says that
nominations by direct vote would give
cities ana municipalities great power in
the selection OF candidates. This argu-
ment always comes from some city poll
ticlau who is always much worried about
tho country voter. II is based upon the
claim that the city voter has an nd
vantage in getting to the polls, The
farmer must travel a long distance, per-
haps over poor roads, and often In bad
weather. But how about these disad-
vantagcs under the caucus and cunyen-
tiOn SYSTEM In order that his Influence
shall be felt az all in making nominations
the farmer must attend at least half a
dozen CauCuses and several conventions
covering nearly the entire season from
spring to fall in his busiest time, This
soljritude OF the Clty-bred politician for
the country voter lacks the stamp Of
sincerity.
The city politician Is not troubling
himself because the farmer has an I'M
equal chance at elections The farmer
does not appear 20 let these dsadyAn-
tagus interfere with his duties "a Clti-
zen on election day. Statistics show
that in some OF our large cities less than
80 per cent. OF the voters 70 10 the polls,
and i'm twenty-four OF the larger Cries
barely half OF the voters vote. Out IN
the country there does not seem to be
any such falling of.
As 60 the relative domination VI cities
IN nominations 10y caucuses aud COnYen-
tons as compared with nominations 10y
direct vote, the fact is OF interest that
.u the recent contests the city or Milwau-
kpe gave ~ out Of IA OF her votes to
a candidate for governor Ia one state
convention and 90 out OF 10 20 another
candidate for governor IN another state
convention Would she have been likely
20 vote with greater unanlmity would
her lulucuCC have been more potent as
against the country voters under u pri-
mary eIectoui
Vow Farmers Fare Through Conventions
With uoarly 90 per cent OF the popula.
tom OF Wisconsin rural, Mr. Thomas, the
Republican candidate for railway com
missioner Is the only farmer as appears
from the biographical sketches, on either
ticket In 1901 there were but thirty
one farmers ont " the 1873 members 10
the Legislature. To have their proper
'Iona.g representation according to pop
uayuu there should have been twice
that many They do not seem TO fare
very wy'l under the caucus aud Couvru-
tiou plan ~ nominating candidates VIII
any one contend that direct nominations
hy tile people would lessen their repre-
spntaU0n:
rugged, honest sefreliant lie and
thought Il the farm is potent FOR all that
rs good iu government and al! that is ex-
allied In citizenship. Il Is of supreme i'm
rur'HHer GO The ucrunneury 90 our po-
N.rH! institutions 90 the making OF our
Laws, that this wholesome influence mud
faH measure on expression 10 al matters
pertaining 90 the state.
Nominations hy direct vote will give
90 each voter, wherever hn lives, in TOW %
ur country, his just influence. bis Just
power % making his ballot. u naming the
candidates OK his party Il is because Ii