The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1904-10-22
PRIMARY REFORM
THAT DON'T REFORM
A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PRIMARY
REFORM AND DIRECT VOTING.
ONE REFORMS The OTHER DOESN'T
500" News Sent a Representative TO
Minnesota TO Study the Matter and
he Finds Against Direct Voting.

The Diamond Drill. long ago, adj
yOcated reform in the primary
method OF the state. IL was one OF
the frst, IL not the first paper, In the
state 10 advocate this reform. When
the writer was chairman OF the county
committee he called a meeting for the
purpose OF arriving at an agreement
among the republicans OF the county
and an election for the purpose was
called but headed of by the west side
people who refused 10 abide by the de-
cision OF the people ON the question.
We have, though, consistently OPP
posed the so called primary reform
wiIiuii IL riiuupiunr,i uy tine ;,ofipps
papers OF Detroit and now advocated
by the Democratic nominee for COVER
nor, Mr.. Ferris. We oppose IL because
we believe that II Will not reform and
II adopted would result in a miscar-
riage OF the purpose IL Is intended for.
The Sault Ste. Marie Evening News
sent representative TO Minnesota,
which state has direct nomination
law, 10 study the workings OF the act.
He made careful canvass of the state
and we reproduce his observations
here.
The Evening News has always
sought 20 be aggressive and up 10 date
in It's handling Of the live issues Of
the hour. Believing that one OF the
burning issues in the state of Michi-
gan in this campaign would be the
question OF primary reform, The News,
early in the campaign, took a decided
position in favor OF a new system Of
placing the candidates of the various
parties in nomination. That the ex-
isting system sadly needed reform of
some kind was plain 90 the vericst
80. The remedy proposed 10y those
Who sought TO cure this crying evil
was generally described as primary
reform, and while there have been
differences OF opinion as TO the exact
procedure 10 be followed, all those who
sought To change the present system
Of nominations have been styled prlm-
ary reformers The News has per-
sisiently supported the primary reform
idea. IN fact. IL was one of the first
paper, IN the state 20 openly advocate
a change in the present system, and
has been throughout the entire pres
ent campaign practically The only
daily ~ the upper peninsula which has
actively champioued this cause. Al
no time, however, in our champion
ship OF primary reform have wc felt
that the Colby bill, So-called offered
a complete remedy FOR the evil We
have repeatedly pointed out that
some compromise measure would un-
doubtcdly achieve the best results
In order 20 get line On the work
ngs Of 4 primary electiou law which
has been Ia operation for four years,
The News sent special representa-.
tive 20 Minneapolis and ST. Paul
where d careful and palnstakng inycs-
tigation was made into the workings
of the Minnesota law This iuyestl.
CATION amply iustiiies our position
that compromise primary reform
bin Is in line with the best Thought Oh
the subject. Minnesota. after four
years experience, has learned many
things, and The News has sought toll
sum up The results of this experience
FOR the benefit aud guidance ot Michi-
gan voters ~ the solution OF The prim-
ary rcfogm problem.