Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1902-05-31
PRIMARY SYSTEM
FULL on FLAWS.
Citisens of Minnesota Warn Wis
oonsin to Proceed
Cautiously.
MEANS RULE OF MACHINE,
Personal Organization Assumes Con-
troll and Political Boss ic
Placed in Power,
AGAINST STATE EXTENSION
Leading Men of st. Paul and Mime
apolis Say Sentiment 10 for
Linaitinx Operation.
From Sentinel, April %. 1902.


see serious objections to it and believe
that the people of Wisconsin ought to
wait until it is tried and its practicable
ity and worth demonstrated by expe-
rience It is a serious blunder to fasten
a system of this kind upon state be
fore it's worth and wisdom have been
proved. There are so many serious OBJ
jections which ought TO be overcome be-
fore it can be said that the good points
outnumber the bad ones. l. necessitates
so much hard work on the part of the
candidate, and he is obliged TO advertise
himself like a circus performer in order
to keep before the public. l do not think
that there is any disposition to extend it
to state politics and believe that the
tendency here is to limit it in its opera
tion." - Statement Of Representative
Dwinnell, author Of the Minnesota pri-
mary election law.
st. Paul, Mimi, April 2S-An inYes-
tigation of the operation of the primary
election law in the city of ST. Paul CON
firms the statements of those who op-
posed the passage of the Stevens primary
election ball when it was pending before
the Wisconsin Legislature i'll the winter
of 1901. This investigation was purpose
~ postponed by the Sentinel until suf-
ficient time had elapsed to permit of a
fair and impartial expression upon the
subject by those who had participated
in the primaries.
The St. Paul experiment, like that in
Minneapolis in the fall of 1900, esta b.
fishes beyond the possibility of success
full dispute certain concrete facts which
should be given their due weight i'll form
ing an opinion as to the value of the
law.
L.
Among the points settled may be cited
the following:
The system Of direct nominations does
not insure purity in primaries. Charges
of gross violations of the law, of repe at
ing and fraudulent voting are now be-
fore the courts of st. Paul, all growing
out Of the primary election held in March
last.
1t imposes heavy expense upon the
city and increases the personal expenses
of the Candidates as WELL No candidate
can hope to be successful at the prima-
ries who does not keep his name con-
stantly before the public.
As the contest in the prim aries is not
between parties or party organizations,
the personal organization or machine
comes to the front and yields an inf1u-
ence out of all proportion with its merits.
The political boss becomes a power.
The poor man who has no money with
which to advertise himself cannot hope
to win against man who is already well
known, who is backed by the machine or
WHO has money to spend freely.
There is no method by which nominal
tons can be made with a view to geo.
graphical or nationality considerations.
In st. Paul, where nine members of the
city assembly are chosen from the city at
large, there is no assurance that the en-
tire ticket may not be nominated from
one ward or even one precinct.
Npnr rtcro & Il =
sofa law by which a party platform can
be drawn that will set forth the princi-
pies of the party. In st. Paul the Re
publican party did not even make a pre-
tense OF framing platform. The DEM
ocratic campaign committee chosen be-
fore the law went into force united with
the candidates and promulgated docu-
ment purporung to be party platform.
No Sentiment for Extension.
After having, tried the experiment in
both Minneapolis and st. Paul there is
no sentiment in Minnesota today favor
able to the extension of the system to the
point of doing away with all party con-
Ventions and nominating state officers by
direct vote.
At a special session of the Legislature
last winter before the St. Paul primaries
were held bill was presented amending
the primary election law restricting in
stead of extending the scope of its op-
erations. This amendment, which was
passed, was supported by members from
all sections of the state. representing
constituencies that did not favor the ap-
plication of the law to cities having less
than 10000 inhabitants.
There is now q strong sentiment mani
Tested in favor of still further limiting
the application of the law by providing
for the nomination of candidates for Con-
gress and the state Legislature by party
conventions.
In making its Investigations in this
field the Sentinel has endeavored to Sc
cure an expression of opinion from lead
ing citizens of the two principal Minneso-
ia cities for the sole purpose of arrivins
at correct understanding of the Sltua-
ton. No effort was made to secure eX-
pressions antagonistic to the law, nor
was the general question asked, "Are you
in favor of primary election lawT'
Those from whom interviews were
sought were informed that there was a
strong sentiment in Wisconsin in favor
of the primary election principle; that
Milwaukee now nominated ward officers
by direct vote of the people and by
ballot. The only question to be decided
was how far would it be safe to go in
applying the principle.
With this understanding. the citizens
of Minneapolis and st. Paul who were
approached on the subject talked very
freely to The Sentinel representative and
expressed their views without apparent
reservation. The consensus or opinion
bears out the contention that the system
of direct nominations is still in its ex-
detrimental stage. and that it will be I'M
safe to extend the scope of its operations
to cover the nomination of ali elective
officers. Already the wave of sentiment
that resulted in the extension of the
Hennepin county law, to the entire state,
including county and legislative officers
and members of Congress, has subsidized
and the prospects are that the next Leg
iSlature will make material changes in
the law, the special session held early in
the winter having already adopted an
amendment to allow cities of less than
10000 inhabitants to nominate candi-
dates in the old way.
One of the most serious objections TO
the Minnesota law, and one that will
naturally apply to all laws of the kind,
Is the expense which candidate must
neceSSarilv incur in seeking a nomina-
ton. Under the direct nomination sys-
tenn advertising pays" as we'll as it
does in business ventures, and the chief
aim OF the candidate for a nomination
Is to get his name before the people.
Candidates Must Advertise.
Every possible device to this end was
resorted to both in Minneapolis and st.
Paul, and it is said that in the former
instance the entire stock of card board in
the city was exhausted in printing cards
for candidates. That the newspapers in
the state are preparing to take advan-
tage of the necessities OF The candidates
is shown By the following notice which