The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1904-11-24
DOES THE PRIMARY APPLY?

legal opinion that the primary
election law adopted by the peo-
pie at the recent election goes in
to effect at once. Senator Quar-
les has announced semi-Offi cially
that he will go before the prirnar-
les. The administration claims
that the law does notapply to the
-senatorship and that the leglsla-
ture will elect in the same old
way. Of course Quarles must
be downed. according to the ad-
ministration way of thinking, and
in case it is acknowledged that
the law does apply to the present
senatorship there will likely be a
red hot primary election
througout the state. Quarles
will be a hard man to beat IN
such contest, and uni ess tn
Governor should avow himself
in the race it is questionable
whether anyone else could defeat
Guarles. It has been SO repeat
edly stated that the Governor
La Toilette would not be candi-
date that people are inclined to
believe he is not in the race.
There should be no Quibbllng
for advantage in the matter and
if the primary election applies
then it will be the duty Of the
legislature to ratify the choice OF
the people after 1t is expressed
at the pools. it is rather surpris-
ing to note the attitude of the
Milwaukee Free Press upon
this question. The Free Press
has been the administration Or
gan from the first and leading
champion ofprimary election law.
Now theFree Press would nulllfy
the action of the law with regard
to the senatorship in case of the
success of Quarles before the
people. One can hardly read the
article in the Free Press and con-
tinue to believe in the sincerity
of it's pretensions regarding the
primary election plan. For the
benefit of our readers The TIMES
publishes the article in full and
each individual can draw his own
conclusions as to this sudden
change Iof front. Here is what
the paper has to say.
cit is evident that public opinion
in Wisconsin on the question of the
application of the new primary
election Jaw to the nomination Of
caedidates for United States senator
is going to divide on factional lines,
and that law and common sense will
gain no credit in the controversy.
Even the privite attorney of Him
self, who recently delivered the
opinion that the law doessnot apply
has now given another opinion,
presumably to please his employer.
to the effect that he has changed his
mind, and that the law does apply
1t is sai6 that the great internaUion-
al authority has also concluded that
there is no question about it. For
some reason or other the opinion of
Mr.. Old has not been gathered up.
And for some reason-prObably the
same one-the opinion of old Boss
Reyes, if gathered up. has not been
printed.
The array of legal authority would
have greater effect on the mind of
the people of the state we're it not
for the bad opinion the people have
recentlv got of the identical array
because Of the unanimous stand it
took on the convention question.
cit is said that Mr.. Quarles, not
content with the recent reputation
given him by the republican party
of the state, will immediately cause
nomination papers TO be circulated,
as required by law for the nomina-
tiop of ) tate officers, and will attempt
to secure an order for the holding of
a primary electlon-a special primary
election, it would seem to be--for
his own nomination, about the 10th
day of January. This order will
probably have to come from the SUI
preme court, and it is said to be the
purpose to take up the question of
the application of the law to this
particular nomination to that tribu-