The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-02-09

bear on Senator Quay to persuade him
to Yield. as yet without effect. BY a
combination of a dozen or more Re
publican senator's with the solid dem
ocratic vote of the senate he is able
to count a majority, which thus far
nothing has been able to break, and
he Stands pat upon the proposition
that a majority has right to pass
any measure which it desires 10 and
that a minority which filibusters to
prevent a vote, is alone responsible
for any inconvenience which may
arise from any failure to transact bus
.iness.
A few days will determine whether
Senator Quay will yield If he does
not an extra session of congress will
be planned for. If an extra session is
held It is very likely to prove one of
.he most important which has ever
convened at Washington.
o----------
PASS A DIRECT PRIMARY LAW.
The Croisan primary law, as drawn
by the Marion County Direct Primary
League, DID NOT ORIGINATE WITH
ANY FACTION. It was drawn by a
non-partisan commission, composed of
two Republicans, a Democrat, a So
ciallst and an Independent voter. The
outline was presented at a number of
mass meetings for endorsement.
Il is not contaminated with any of
the bitter factional strifes that have
rent the party in Multnomah county,
and. TO a great extent the Republican
patty of the entire state.
The main features of the law are
very simple It applies the principles
Of the Australian ballot law to the
nominating primary within the party.
maintains party organization, AND
GIVES VOTERS A SECRET DIRECT
VOTE ON EACH OFFICE TO BE
FILLED
The regular election judges and
clerks, appointed by the county au.
thorities conduct the primary elec.
don for all parties ON THE SAME
DAY AT THE REGULAR POLLING
PLACES IN EACH PRECINCT.
There is the right of challenge as
TO the right to vote and as to the
right OF party ahllation. and the
members of each party have all the
aspirants for nomination printed on |
their own voting blank, and the bal. |
lots Of Democrats and Republicans are
each put I'm their own ballot box.
NOTHING CAN BE FAlRER OR
MORE COMPLETE If party identity
is TO remain
In concluding a long editorial on the |
necessity for a Direct Primary law, |
the Oregonian reaches conclusion |
that Is given in the following para.
graph and IL should be read with the |
greatest care:
Il would not be creditable to the |
legislature TO leave the present pri. |
mary situation unchanged. The act |
In force i'm Multnomah county is I'M. |
PERFECT AS IT is, AND SHOULD |
BE AMENDED; and the extension of
the Australian ballot and official over |
sight of the general primaries Of the |
state is A NATURAL AND NEcEs.
sARY STEP IN BALLOT REFORM, |
following upon the Australian ballot
and the registry law.
Here is an admission that the Lock. |
wood law is imperfect, and should be !
amended although the Republican |
platform, by inference, asks that Il
be extended over the whole state.
That platform adopted last May al |
so declares tha' some form OF Direct /
Primary law should be adopted. and /
that the Lockwood act, as drawn by
It's author, WAS A DIRECT PRl. |
MARY LAW, and was emasculated by |
one faction In the last legislature |
ana made delegate primary law.
VIVA the legislature should do is TO |
go back TO the original intent of the |
Lockwood law and ENACT AT THIS /
SESSION A DIRECT PRIMARY /
LAW and the only non-partisan act
ever drawn and submitted to the lee.
islature is the present Crolsan bin.
As the oregonian admits. a Direct
Primary law is the natural and neces.
sary step to ballot reform-as impor.
'ant as the Australian ballot law ever
was.
o--
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