Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-02-13
w. s. Dwinnell, Father Min.
nesota Primary Election
Law" Not Satisfied
EXPRESSES OPINIONS IN LETTER
He Holds That the Principal Argument
Against the Primary Is the Basic One,
That 1t Applies the Theory of Pure
Democracy to Political Parties-No
Advantage Gained.

Minnesota primary election law" has
discovered that the so-called reform is
a failure, and in a letter written to one
of the leading republicans of Wisconsin
says SO in plain terns. No advantage
! has been gained, he says, in the way
! adds that the system without question
is destructive of political parties. The
| letter, in full, as follows, will give the
| advocates of the reform in this state
something to think about:
| II doubt somewhat whether my po-
] siton would satisfy either party to the
controversy now going on in your
state. A direct primary, in my opinion,
| is beneficial in that 1T arouses great
| public interest and causes the people
| to take general interest IN the selec-
| ton of candidates. However, it is with
out question destructive to political
parties. Those who believe in party
| government can not advocate the ap-
| plication of direct primary In the Sc
| lection of candidates for all offices. My
| Judgment is that this form OF nomina-
| ton will usually accomplish desirable
| results when applied to municipal
| offices. The reason for this is that the
| people are usually r,ore interested III
that government which is nearest to
| them, and WILL therefore. exercise .
more Intelligent choice. For members
Of the legislature. judges, state officers,
members of congress. etc.. very much
Nf
nomination. The average person knows
| but little of the requirements for these
offices or of the qualifications OF the re-
spective candidates therafor. Inc
| choice, therefore, made by them. no
matter how honest il may be. is not IN
telligent Candidates under primaries
are usually chosen by very sinaii
minority of the party.
81 think, however. that the principal
argument against the primary is the
basic one, namely. that 1t applies the
theory of a pure democracy to political
parties. / have always been strong
believer In representative form OF
government, and 1t .ieems to me that
all those who hold to this idea should
consider carefully the underlying pr1n-
oiple involved in n direct primary be-
fore advocating the same. I supported
and secured the adoption OF the hrst
primary law in this State. believing that
it was a simple way to avoid corrup-
ton in public affairs In two primary
elections in the state, however. ! nave
ssen that no advantage has been
gained.
"One other suggestion which l have
omitted is the disagreeable nature of an.
ante primary contest to n self-respect-
ling man. Under the convention sys-
ten, it was customary for a person de-
string Office TO see some OF the leaulns
and more active citizens in each pre-
cinct and secure their support, II possl-
BILE. II their support was secured the
contest within that precinct became not
only the contest of the candidate, but
also of the supporters. some OF Whon,
perhaps, had consented to go on the
ticket as delegates to the convention.
The amount of labor required TO secure
an office by a person who was acknowl-
edged to be we'll qualified was, there
fore. not great. Under the primary
system, as operated in this city min
neapolis), however, the candidate Tor
the most insignificant office is required
10 give UP his entire time for at least
two months before the primaries The
only issue is himself. He can not dis
cuss party policies, because the con-
test is within the party, and ali the
candidates presumably are committed
10 the same issues. The contest IS
therefore purely personal. and therefore
disagreeable to a person of any mod
esty or self-respect. have seen as
many as thirty candidates appear on
la platform one after another, proclaim
their own virtues, and tell the people
how much they Were going to Go for
them, and how we'll they would admin
lister the offices which they were seek
ing. But / need not enlarge upon this
Objectionable feature. / have been in
terested in the contest in Wisconsin.
do not think the issue is so important
as many believe, but I do think that the
advocates of a primary law wil',, like
myself, be greatly disappointed in that
which they are seeking to accomplish.
Mr. Dwinnell was a member of the
Minnesota legislature in 1899 and in
PRODUCED the bill that became a law. 1t
has several times been reported that he
was now opposed to a primary election.
but there has been no word from him
on the subject, except an intimation
some time ago that he was not per-
fectly satisfied The letter herewith
published was received today by a man
who asked him for his opinion.
~,ucAI NhiE nAv,c Rest