The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1904-10-07

tickets did not expend $500 previous to
the nominations, for all purposes. In
Muskegon county we are informed Oh
good authority that from $4,000 to 3d.
600 was distributed by candidates for
places on the republican ticket alone,
before and upon primary day; that much
of this money went into the saloons;
and that, other things being equal, the
candidate who did not "dig up liber-
ally stood 70 show whatever of winning.
Professor Ferris, are these things true
or false?
We are told in Kent county hundreds
and perhaps thousands of democrats
voted in the republican primaries; that
some of the successful candidates were
so bad that no convention would have
dared to place them on the ticket. We
are also told that as was the case in
Muskegon county, money flowed like
water.
Professor Ferris, are these things true
or false?
We are also told that some of the De-
troit candidates withdrew from the pri-
mary campaign because of the great ex.
pense of conducting a winning canvass.
Professor Ferris, is this true or falseY
In Iowa, we are informed that coun-
ties, after trying the Tlan you so strenu-
ously urge for our adoption, are going
back to the convention system.
Professor Ferris, is this true, and if
true, why are they dong it?
Do the people of Minnesota, after ex-
perience with the method you advocate,
demand the extension of the system to
include state officers? Or is there a
growing sentiment in favor of returning
to the convention system for large nom-
nations?
Right in this connection, Professor
Ferris, listen to the testimony of the
Minneapolis Tribune, one of the best
known and most reputable newspapers
in Minnesota. The Tribune says of the
primary law:
In fact it works damnably It's prac-
tice is the reverse of its theory. 1t does
not put power in the hauds of majority
of the people BY multiplying candi-
dates and confusing the public mind, it
gives office to the most industrious ad-
vertiser and campaigner by plurality
that may be only 10 per cent of the
whole vote. 1t does not raise the stand
ard of public service in electoral dis
tricts larger than those in which every
candidate is personally known to his
neighbors. 1t has distinctly lowered
the average quality Of new members to
congress in this state. 1t gave Minneapo
lis a mayor who has once been convicted
of bribery and who, pending his third
trial, has the audacity to appeal to the
people to vindicate him by nominating
him to congress under this law"
Is it true that in Minnesota it is com
mon for democrats to vote in republican
primaries for the purpose of nominating
weak candidates in order to make posi-
BILE the defeat of the republican ticket
at the polls? What is the provision in
the Minnesota law for overcoming this
evil? How does it operate?
Is it true in Minnesota that the can
didates for large nominations best known
to the people are those exploited by
corrupt papers for pay" and that the
most worthy candidates are frequently
unknown because they refuse to be
blackmailed?" What is said in the Mn
nesota republican and democratic plat
forms relative to extending the direct
nominating method to state ofiicersY
No man of the standing and intelli-
gence of Professor Ferris would go out
and advocate so radical change as do
ing away with the convention system by
the compulsory nomination by direct
vote of all candidates from governor to
constable, including judges of the SUI
preme court, railroad commissioner and
tax commissioners, unless he thoroughly
understood his position, and we ask these
questions in all sincerity, being DESTROYS
OF whatever knowledge we can acquire
in connection with this interesting ques-
ton OF the day, and we will be glad in
deed to have Professor Ferris enlighten
US with great light in his address this
evening.