Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-02-19

Chief Clerk Wisconsin Assembly.
members introduce them by request of
some constituent, or even of a stranger
bills that reflect hobbies, or some bit
Of punishment or reward; and now
and then a deep, subtle bill seeking to
accomplish something important under
the guise of "a purely local BILL" as
the introducer is apt to say when
called on for an explanation.
The legislators are above the aver
age in intelligence, it is generally
agreed. The senate is body that has
not been equalled for knowledge of
public affairs and statesmanlike grasp
of topics.
Primary Elections.
The primary election bill, which
went through the assembly with hands
down, is being digested in the senate
It's friends wish to hurry it, but Sen
ator Morse'S committee reasons that
so important a matter should be con-
sidered carefully. AS many readers
know, this bill provides blanket pri-
mary election scheme to cover all
nominations in all kinds of elections,
from United States senators, congress
men, governors, minor state officers
down to and including city and county
officers. If the senate should pass it,
Governor LaFollette would sign it
for it is the full programme he has
urged-and the new system would go
into effect to the fullest degree. How
ever, it is unlikely the senate will pass
it in this form. The disposition is to
pass a bill in good faith-this advance
as a result of. campaigning two years
ago may be conceded. 1t is the desire
to recognize the platform pledge. BUT
the senate shrinks from inducing the
new system SO completely without
knowledge.
Ingenious Device Suggested.
So the following ingenious device
has been Iggested-one that will
meet the platform pledge, it is claimed,
yet one that will throw some light, of
experience on the plan before going
the full length. 1t is to adopt the full
bill as it comes from the assembly
to make no change in it; but to limit it's
application on the start to city and
county elections, the extension of the
system to higher elections to be voted
upon by the people at the fall elections
in 1904. This would give the people
two trial trips" with the direct vote
to see chow It worked''-at the spring
elections of 1903 and at the fall cleo
lions Of 1904-for while the referen-
dunn would be held at that fall cleo
ton, the nominations for county Off
GERS then to be voted for would be
by primary election. This plan, Of
course, forbids the nomination by pri-
mary election of those state senators
and assemblymen who will elect a sue
cessor to United States Senator
Ouarles in 1904, and it shuts out a
choice of this successor by primary
election (as provided in the bill as now
worded. The substitute is not rel
ished by the administration some of
whom say that the assembly would not
concur in the modification nor would
the governor sign it. Nevertheless,
some of the best friends of primary
elections, as Colonel John Hicks of
Oshkosh, indorse it, and it may be the
senates disposition of the bill. 1t is
claimed by those urging this partial
plan, that it meets the demands Of the
platform and that, if the people want
it (as the friends of the full pro-
gramme claim, and as the elections
and platforms seem to make sure), they