The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1904-12-09
Fdi 70 Common +.
More Liqht on Primaries.

We have all along cOntended that the
enactment of primary law aud the
consequent revolution of our methods OF
nomination should be gone INTO very
SLOWLY and cautiously, that the utmost
conservatism should prevail, and that
any new law should be BEGGED about 10y
the most stringent possible protection
against the fraud and corruption that
we believe prevails in the primaries oil
the Michigan cities that are pow using
the new system. More than this, we
believe the new general law should be
local option law, at least during its ex.
detrimental stages. A Il this is not oppo-
sition to primary elections bur merely
wise precaution to avoid falling into
grievous mistakes.
The Detroit papers have during the
campaign taken The True Northerner
to task for its position, this paper has
beer by them branded as tool OF the
machine, and one Of the great dailles OF
the state metropolis turned its funny
fraud and the reckless use Of money
would follow the enactment of com
pusory primary law, unless some pro-
lection was devised that was more eff
cient than had been Incorporated in any
law yet enacted and tried III any state.
1t is always gratifying to say Il told
YOU So and We have that universal
human pride in showing the correctness
OF our position and it gives us especial
satisfaction to rest our case on the state
ments of that eminent primary reformer,
the Detroit Free Press. The Detroit
politicians are the parents and godpar-
ents of the primary reform agitation IN
Michigan, and the Wayne county law Is
the product of their united wisdom.
Surely, the Detroit primary laws ought
to be- pretty near perfection IN opt Grafton.
The campaign Is now over, and the Free
Press ;elis the truth about primaries,
Read what it said IN It's Tuesday morn
ing issue:
The recount on the county treasurer
nomination ~ the primaries showed
panty that there nad been plenty of
violations Of the primary law-the direct
vutIng law Tor Wayne county from
which SO much had been hoped IN the
way OF additional purity 1t was freely
talked among the practical politicians
that the registrars were sore at one can
dldale because he worked to prevent
them FROM drawing pay illegally and
that h. ,TaS tuiVpp the AFprNt pI y
County candidates knew that they had
been trimmed by men who controlled
the boards. but took their medciue
rather than be considered kicker~, and
though it was quite plain that certain
men had committed criminal otfrGses
under the law, nobody made move to
see that the vioatur- Of the statute were
punished At that time, Judge Durfee
expressed the fear that the ease with
which the primary boards in some of the
river precincts were permitted to get
ava, with their dirty work would en-
courage them and others to do the same
thing in the election, and the recount on
sheriff gives peut, of evidence that this
fear was realized
More than ever. We are convinced that
direct nominations should not be forced
on any community IN the present en-
bryouic state of primary legislation. II
a general law is to be enacted, IL should
go no further than to replace the eau
cuseS che present primaries) with pri
mary elections, wherein Delegates may
should be- retained.