The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-09-17
THE pRlAARY LAW.

1
this state will be put to a severe test.
One is forced to the conclusion that,
no matter what may be said of the
theory Of the law, that in practice it
has worked badly. It has proven to
be expensive to candidates. 1t has de-
veloped more candidates for Office than
the convention system, without i'm.
| proving upon the character of the can
didates. And so far it has resulted in
nominating some very inferior ma
terial. The idea Of the primary law
| was to allow the people to select the
candidates instead Of the politicians
The people, as matter of practice,
have no more decisive voice in the
matter than under the old system.
The people do not nominate the candi-
dates under the present law, the can
didates nominate themselves. There is
no such thing now as the Office seeking
the man. The initiative must be taken
by the candidate himself. He must
file an affidavit of his intention to be-
come candidate before the people can
take any part in selecting him. 1t is
a well known fact that in most cases
the men best fitted for any particular
office are the very ones who do not
care to urge themselves upon the pub
lie, they are unwilling to place them
in, otf t,11o oc
the public that in their own view they
are fitted for this or that office. There
are, however, very large number of
persons who, because of their lack of
sense of the proprieties of things, or
because of overwhelming ambition, or
distorted idea of their own ability
ana Importance, are ever ready to be-
come candidates. This situation re-
suits in Il very large number of candi-
dates for different offices, mostly men
who belong to one or the other of the
classes above mentioned. The man
who has presumption enough to urge
himself as a candidate for an office for
which no one else would suggest him
as proper candidate, always has the
| nerve to hustle for the place for which
he has nominated himself. With the
unthinliing and poorly Informed por-
ton of the public such an individual
| may have great success if he hap
! pens to be a ''good fellow" 1t is
hardly fair statement to say that
the people nominate in such case.
1t is far more correct to say that the
| candidate dominates himself 1t is the
presumptious. energetic fellow that
succeeds under the primary law. If
he has money his success is assured.
1t is well known fact that the most
capable and the most deserving men
are the very ones who will not urge
themselves. Under the old system
such men were frequently nominated
by the conventions without any act on
the part of the nominee. Under the
present system only those who are
willing to be their own sponsors be-
come candidates. It is safe to say
that the primary law is no longer pop
ular among those familiar with it's
workings. 1t started out under the
brightest auspices. 1t had and it still
has the support Of the newspapers, be-
cause it was newspaper law. The
great majority Of the people were in
favor of it because it had been freely
advertised as a reform measure. The
marked change that has taken place
in the attitude of the people is ac-
| centuated because of the fact that they
were formerly so thoroughly commit
ted to it. Either the law must be
amended in important particulars or
else couple more primary elections
are sure to raise such an amount of
dissatisfaction that repeal will surely
follow.