Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-02-04
THE PRIMARY BILL.
Measure Approved by Admins
tration Will Be Pushed
10 Passage.
o. s. SENATORS PROVIDED FOR
Party Choices Named in Primary
EIections--RaiIroad Taxation
This Week.

Madison, Feb 3.-Chief interest CEN
fefs in the primary election bill which
we now have in official shape. 1t win
be remembered two bills were intro
duced in the assembly Cby Messrs.
Trear and Andrew, respectively-both
LaFollette menu They went to COM
mittee, and already there emerges from
committee new bill (superseding the
others, on which the fight will be
made. There is little doubt that Gov
ernor LaFollette has been closely con-
suited as to the measure. The rapid
ity with Ghich the matter has cli-
NAKED Is characteristic of the man and
administration.
q. s. Senators Included.
A striking feature of the bill is that
its provisions apply TO United States
senators-thus, while, as now, the
legislatures would elect such, the cam
didates of each party will be named
by the partisans at a primary cleo
lion. All judiciary officers will be ex-
eInpt from the scope of the law-this
will please the judges of all the courts,
who are content W tn the present sys-
TEN of non-partisan petitions as the
machinery of nominations. Also are
exempt state superintendent of ed
ucation, town, village, and school dis
trict officers
Suppose You Wanted Office.
Tho fAFoY rrS iii fl,tYe opopofns Civfx
days before the September date fixed
for the primary flor a general cleo
tom, Mr.. Houser, the secretary of
state, would notify the clerks of all
villages, cities and counties. Promptly
(within ten days. each clerk must
publish to the voters of his district the
fact of an approaching election with
Instructions to those who wish to fig
ure as candidates.
= The Nomination Paper.
If you wish to stand for office, either
you or your friends must get names of
citizens to a nomination paper"
a citizen may not sign more than one
paper (this will embarrass men who
wish to be popular, especially if they
decline to sign the first paper. and
sign a second that comes alongD and
the sigller must give his residence ad-
dress. Que OF more aff1davits are filed
las many as are ecessary-certify-
ing that all the signers are electors.
How Many signers?
But, you ask, How many signers
must I get If wish to get my name
on the ticket?' (he primary election
ticket. If you are a candidate for
state office (say state treasurerl your
petition must be signed by about 200
names-moreover, these must repre-
sent at least six counties of the 20
in the state and papers must be circu-
lated In at least one-tenth Of the dis
trict precincts.
Suppose It IL q County Office.
However, If you wish Il county Of
fee, your petition must carry five per
cent of the vote of the party-say
1000 names in Dane county--and one
third of the election precincts must
be represented. There are about so
precincts In Dane county. You must
drive out-or some friend-to one
third this number of places-and get
some signatures from each. This pro-
vision is not merely to discourage
every fellow from running from office
1T presupposes an acquaintance, an
influence and prestige more than local.
The Independent Vote.
The plan leaves a loop-hole for the
''small party"--the minority which
may some day be a majority. If the
party receives even one per cent of
the total vote at the preceding cleo
ton, it Is entitled to representation
on the day of election as party. And
the man who would run independent
the reform mayor" the 'non-partisan
alderman"-must secure the sigma
tires Of two per cent of the total vote
of the last general election; that is, If
you wish to run independent" as a
candidate for alderman in Madison
you must leave with the city clerk a
petition signed by about 100 citizens.
Progress of Taxation Measures.
Primary elections having the first
inning, the question of taxation is tenn
porarily eclipsed. The report of the
state tax commission, however, is well
received and it is a vigorous and d.
rect document. OF the chapter on the
taxation of credit-at which point
Messrs. ellison and Curtis take issue
with the governor-Col. w. ]. Ander-
son says: cit is the most sensational
If such a word may be used in t'lia
connection-because of the advanced
ground taken. After giving a history
of the efforts that have been made to
reach intangible property for taxation,
and pointing out the impossibility OF
ever reaching for assessment any con-
siderable portion of this class of prop
erty, it is contendCd that 1t is folly to
longer try to perpetuate the pretense
OF taxing il. In q most carefully devel-
oped argument the reasons are given,
clearly and strongly, why there never
should have been any effort to tax
credits. To cease TO tax this kind of
property. fl is held. IL not to exempt
any property, but rather to abolish the
fiction that IT is taxing property. 1t
is directly In line with the most adj
vanced economic thought of the day"
Railroad Aiagnates Coming.
The hearing this week, to which the
president and high officials of railroads
are invited, VIII be interesting. These
visitors are mon of the kppnast abil-