The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1904-10-21
RURAL DISTRICTS SHUT OUT.
Republican Legislature Will Devise
Way to Protect the Farmers OF
Michigan.


demolishes the impregnable position
like the frosted sugar castle on
birthday cake.
That is the case of the theorists
who wish to force the abolition OF
conventions and the direct nomlna-
ton system upon all the counties ana
political districts of this state, wheth-
er the people want it or not. Ihey
have been .r"uing beautifully for
months to prove that their scheme
would give all the people full repre-
sentation In the naming of pubic
servants, and which would secure
more evenly distributed representa-
ton than the delegate system can
give. And then along comes AlpeBa
county, with its practical experiment
with the direct nomination system, and
shows that the new plan is not yet
sufficiently safeguarded to protect the
rights of all. 1t will be remembered
that Alpena city captured all the coun-
" offices on the Republican ticket,
leaving the townships, the farming
population. entirely out In the cold.
They had the power to do ii, being in
the majority.
But there are other practical Illus
trations of the system. In Kent. Mus
kegon and Altoona counties. the county
tickets were nominated by direct vote.
Grand Rapids is i'm Kent county and
the city of Muskegon is I'm MuSkegon
county. The vote cast for governor in
Kent county at the general election
of 1902. was Republican, 9.tO6; Demo
Gratis sop, at the primaries held
Sept Is. last, the Republican vote cast
for sheriff was 1868, and the total
Democratic vote for the whole county
was sol.
In Muskegon COUNT at the cleo
tion of 1900 the Republican nominee
for governor received 5,162. the Dem
ocrat. 2,947. At the election Of 1902,
the Republican nominee for governor
received 3,GT2. and the Democrat l.
OIL. 1t will be noticed that at both Of
these elections the Democratic vote
for governor was more than one-half
as much as the Republicans. At the
primaries held Sept Is last, the
largest vote east for any Democratic
nominee WAS 1Se. that being for the
candidate for sheriff.
In Kent county at the primaries
on the same date the Republican vote
for sheriff was 1907 more than the
Republican vote for goeyrnOr at the
general election i'm 1902. and the total
Democratic vote east at the same prl-
maries was. as before stated. only
5O4. and 7.7SS less than the Demo-
cratic vote for governor at the cleo
ton OF 1902.
In MuskegOn county. at their recent
primaries. the Republican vote for
the nomination of sheriff was 1897
more than the Republican vote for
governor at the election Of 1902, and
the Democratic vote cast for the nomi-
nation for sheriff was 1.724 less than
the Democratic vote for governor at
the same election. This tremendous
falling of In the Democratic vote and
the big gain In the Republican vote
over the vote cast at the general cleo
ton In both counties was caused by
the fact that great many Demo
Gratis voted at the Republican pri-
maries. They vote for the man who,
they think Is the weakest candidate
on the Republican ticket at the pri-
Tnar ies In an endeavor to nominate him,
and at the election hope to be able
TO defeat him. The Republicans would
cratic localities.
Every man nominated on the Re-
publican ticket I'm Kent county re-
sides in the city OF Grand Rapids,
and four OF the candidates. register
OF deeds, prosecuting attorney, judge
OF probate and clerk, were nominated
for the third term.
In Muskegon county every nominee
lie n
dent Of the city Of Muskegon, will
the single exception of the nominee
for register of deeds. who resides in
Muskegon township, adjoining the
city. Farmers were unsuccessful can
didates for the following offices: On,
for representative, two for sheriff
and one for county clerk. Only on,
farmer was nominated in the county
Of Muskegon. and none i'm Kent.
This is easily explained. Voters
living in cities or villages can attend
the primaries and vote on ther way
10 the store. office or shop. at tn,
noon hour or in the evening whei
they have finished their work, withou
the loss Of n minutes time. The far
mer, and these living i'm the rura
districts. are Obliged TO quit thei
work and lose half day. and, i'm
great many instances. the whole day
Tor the purpose Of voting. There
only one conclusion TO be reached
should this system become general
That Is. the cities and villages woul
control all nominations as was tn
ease I'm Kent and MuskcgOn counties
This system prevails I'm the count
OF Altoona. and on September 6. tn
primaries were held and county tickle
nominated. The Republican vote 70
the nomination Of sheriff was 91C
That vote was 146 more than tn
average Republican vote for governo
at the last three general elections
This is more evidence of Democrat
assistance I'm nominating n Republica
ticket. The candidate who receive
241 votes, less than n quarter of tn
vote cast, was nominated. Their