The Owosso times., 1904-10-21
Experience in Several Counties Dis.
close GIaring Defects.
RURAL DISTRICTS SHUT OUT.
Republican Legislature viii Devise
Way to Protect the Farmers Of
Michigan.

lnaC tneOrlSlS very aotteH puilu uk
what appears to be facts into seem
ing impregnable position on any given
proposition. And then actual practice
comes along and at one fell swoop
demollshes the impregnable position
like the frosted sugar castle on a
birthday cake.
That is the case Of the theorists
who wish to force the abolition OF
conventions and the direct nomina.
tion system upon all the counties and
political districts Of this state, wheth.
er the people want it or not. They
have been ..rguing beautifully for
months to prove that their scheme
would give all the people full repre-
-sentation in the naming Of public
servants, and which would secure
more evenly distributed representa-
ton than the delegate system can
give. And then along comes Alpena
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-
ty offices on the Republican ticket,
leaving the townships, the farming
population. entirely out in the cold.
They had the power to do 1t, 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 in Kent county and
the city of Muskegon is in Muskegon
county, The vote cast for governor in
Kent county ut the general election
of 1902. was Republican. 9,706; Demo-
Gratis 1922, at the primaries held
Sept. 13 last, the Republican vote cast
for sheriff was 1868, and the total
Democratic Tote for the whole county
was 50f
In Mpskegon county, at the cleo
ton of 1900 the Republican nominee
for governor received 5,162. the Dem
ocrat, 294T. At the election of 1902,
the Republican nominee FOR governor
received 3,6I2. and the Democrat, l.
OIL, ItNill 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. 13 last, the
largest vote cast for any Democratic
nominee was 1SS. 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 goevrnor at the
general election in 1902, and the total
Democratic vote cast at the same pri-
maries was. as before stated, only
504, and 7,7SS less than the Demo-
cratic vote for governor at the elec-
ton of 1902.
In Muskegon county, at their recent
primaries, the Republican vote for
the nomination of sheriff was 1887
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 off in the Democratic vote and
the big gain In the Republican vote
over the vote cast at the general elec-
tion 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-
,maries in an endeavor to nominate him.
and at the election hope to be able
to defeat him. The Republicans would
no doubt do the same thing in Demo
cratic localities.
Every man nominated on the Re-
finl- Ia. nt,f 70
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 Mgskegon county every nominee
on the Republican ticket is a resi-
dent of the city of Muskegon, with
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: One
for representative, two for sheriff
and one for county clerk. Only one
farmer was nominated in the county
of Muskegon. and none in Kent.
This is easily explained. Voters
living In cities or villages can attend
the primaries and vote on ther way
to the store, office or shop, at the
noon hour. or in the evening when
they have finished their work, without
the loss of minutes time. The far
mer, and those living i'm the rural
districts, are obliged to quit their
work and lose half day. and, in
great many. instances, the whole day.
for the purpose Of Voting. There is
only one conclusion to be reached.
should this system become general.
That is, the cities and villages would
control all nominations, as was the
case in Kent and Muskegon counties.
This system prevails In the county
of Alcona, and on September g, the
primaries were held and county ticket
nominated. The Republican vote for
the nomination Of sheriff was 07O.
That vote was 146 more than the
average Republican vote for governor
at the last three general elections.
This Is more evidence Of Democratic
assistance In nominating Republican
ticket. The candidate. who received
241 votes. less than quarter of the
vote cast, was Nominated. There