The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1903-03-13
Republican Ticket
Primary Elections.

The action of the republican state con-
vention last week gives an added interest
to the agitation of the primary election
question, and it is matter OF such i'm
portance as to merit the careful consid-
Grafton of every citizen. The True
Northerner has heretofore expressed it's
disapproval of the proposition to enact
law for the nomination of all candidates,
from state down, by direct vote OF the
people, and we see no reason for chang
ing our opinion, the expression of the
majority of the republican state conven-
ton to the contrary Notwithstanding.
The fight over the resolutions in the
state convention was lively and inter
esting one, the opposition to the primary
election resolution being led by Senator
Woodman of this district, and his atti-
tude was approved by the solid vote of
both Van Buren, and Allegan counties
in opposition to the resolution. Senator
Woodman cannot consider himself as in
any way bound by the action of the
state convention, as it was taken against
the protest of his constituents.
Six months ago, we do not believe that
80 votes could have been mustered
in state convention against general
primary election resolution, but the
matter has been opened up to public un-
Outstanding since then, and the rural
counties are coming to understand that
the proposed system of primary elections
is a scheme to increase the power of the
cities in the deciding of state nomina-
tions, and that its adoption would
threaten the whole state with the dis
gushing Tom Navinsm which at present
afflicts and contaminates the republican
ism of Wayne county. 1t was an inspir
ing(D spectacle to see Tom Navin stand
up and vote the solid delegation of
Wayne in favor of the primary election
resolution. OF course Tom Navin wants
it. 1t was almost equally inspiring to
see Bill Judson do likewise for Washte-
nav county, although poll of his dele
CATION showed considerable opposition
TO the proposed system OF course
silent Bill" wants it. The inspiration
was intensified 10y the solid vote of Kent
in favor of the resolution. OF course
Kent's political bosses want it.
The vote in the state convention stood
543 for the law to 3S5 against it-a
majority of 1873. OF the affirmative vote
an even 200 were cast by the Wayne and
Kent delegations, so that outside of the
two big cities OF the state there was an
actual majority against the resolution,
and we are confident that after another
six months of discussion it would be inn
possible to get an endorsement of a
general primary election law applying to
state officers through a Michigan repub-
lican convention.
1t is probable that some kind of a
general primary election law will be
passed by the present legislature, but
Senator Woodman, Representative
Adams and other legislators from the
rural communities owe it to their con-
stituents to see that no measure is enact
ed, il in their power to prevent, that will
make the centers of population the
dominating factors in state politics.
III the cities want primary elections,
let them have them through special bills.
IL any counties outside of the cities want
the system, let them have it through
special bills
a Mt nnnnCpd RI
general primary measure that forces
counties to abandon their conventions
unless they want to do so, and that leg
islates out of existence state and con-
gressional conventions. We are even
more positively opposed to a primary
election law that would provide for the
primaries of all parties to be held togeth-
er, permitting democrats to express
their preference as to republican nom
inees, or vice versa, il the voters saw fit
to vote the ticket OF another party in
the primaries instead of their own.
AS we have before said, it is possible a
law applying to townships and wards
only, for the selection of delegates, each
party holding its own primaries, might
accomplish good, and we have no obiec-
ton to such an experiment being tried
However, we do not understand that
such a measure is being seriously con-
sidered, but that system of direct NOM
ipation of all candidates is what the city
fellows are,after, and are bending every
effort to secure. In this direction, we
believe it wise to make haste very slowly.
Let the cities and counties that want it
try it first before saddling the system on
the whole state. II the legislature can
not be stopped at special bills or the
township primary idea, then let the
adoption of the primary system be op-
tional with each county. II it proves to