The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-01-27
Harry B. Hawes Believes Proposed
Amendments Will Rem
edy Evils.
MEASURE is WELL IND0RSED.
All Three Election Commissioners
Have Signed the Request for
Enactment-Effort to Cor
rect Abuses.
BY STAGE CORRESPONDENT.

| BY STAFF CORRESPONDENT.
Jefferson. City. Mo-. Jan. 2s.-The frauds
| Of the last Republican primary in ST. Louis
| likely VIII not be repeated If the General
Assembly passes the amendments to the
present law which We're presented this aft
erroon In the Senate by Senator Nelson
| and in the House by Representative Carr.
Harry b. Hawes. who brought the amend
| ments with him from st. Louis last :ight.
| Is confident that they change the Drabelle
law in such way that fair primaries must
| result. no matter how disposed committee
men NAV be to resort to bad practices.
''All three of the Election Commissioners"
he said this morning. have signed the re-
quest for the General Assembly to pass the
proposed amendments. That in itself is
sufficient evidence that the changes are nom
partisan and will work for the benefit Of
the city. No corrupt committee can per-
petuate itself by naming the judges and
clerks of primaries
PRESENT LAW.
The present primary law was framed by
Senator Dr:belle of st. Louis to correct
abuses of the old law. under which Butler
Indians made things so interesting that can
didates for offices were almost disheartened
from attempting to run. Drabelle had an
sage Of the law which is now popularly
known by his name.
The law has been considered excellent ex-
cept for one feature. that of direct prim-
ary. While the theory has worked in
practice in the country, Republican City
Committeeman showed to what uses 1t could
be put by practically debating nominations
through the power which the law gives
them to name judges and clerks
In recent primary in st. Louis over 500
votes c0nnfpd IN nj tvvp orf}o
for Justice of the Peace. while as mat
ter of fact the ballots were not even cast
In the election.
The amendments proposed by the Election
Commissioners abolish the direct primary
entirely. excepting for nominating candi-
amendments leave it optional with the city
committees to determine whether candidates
for the House Of Delegates shall be NOM
tion.
One change. which will cause heartburn
ings In the faction opposed to Republican
ment which leaves the selection Of judges
and clerks for the direct primary to NOM
mating candidates for the House Of Dele
gates to the member or members Of the
Board Of Election Commissioners belonging
to the political party" having the primary
Under ths the law the City
judges clerks and challengers of the direct
primary.
PROPOSED CHANGES.
Speclfcaly. the amendments are follows:
after the word elections the following: For
other purposes than the selection Of party can
didates or party committeeman
. Amend section II by striking out in the eighth
line the words a candidate candidates for
public office and insert in lieu thereof the words
candidates for the House Of Delegates'; in the
direct vote or
Amend section Is by striking out IN the sec
ond line the words or the committee IN any
district in such; in third line the word city
and public and inserting in lieu thereof after
the word public, and the words House Of Dele
words office or Committeeman for said party;
in the twelfth line the word 'one' in the thir-
tenth line hundred qualified electors of the
city. or II from q district in each city, in the
fourteenth line the words then at least in the
sixteenth line office for which he seeks q nom
ination and the political subdivision in the
thirtieth line Election Commissioner from lists
submttted by the men, In the thirty-hrst line
aging committee OF the party holding the same
and insert in lieu of words stricken out In line
80 and u the following: Member members
Of the Board Of Election Commissioners belong
eiactior.'
Amend section 1s by striking out the word
candidates in the eighth line and insert after
the word 'electors' in same line the owrds candi-
dates for the House Of Deiegates Amend by
striking out tn the ninth line after the word
candidates the ward for and the letter a.
given Office
Amend section q. subdivision l. by striking
out after the word for in the tenth line the
striking out ali o{ the said subdivision after the
word Offices in the twelfth line, beginning with
the word provided and ending with the word
primaries in the twenty-fourth line"