The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1904-03-25
Primary Election Reform
From The Hastings Banner

From The Hastings Banner.
There has always been lot of SOUL
duggery in politics, especially in tn
cities, and there will be for long tim
to come, whether we have primary cleo
ton reform. or whether we do not, de
spite the cry of the city dailies for it
There will be rottenness in politics un
der a primary election law. just as ther,
is now, but perhaps there may not be al
much of it. The Banner is very strong
ly in favor of primary election reform
and throwing around the primaries tht
strongest possible safe guards, consistent
with pure politics and the good of the
party. We are decidedly opposed to do
ing away with the convention and nom
mating candidates by direct vote, be-
| cause it would centralize political power
in the large cities, where it ought not tc
be, to the detriment of the rural com
munities; it would prevent the meeting
and acquaintance with candidates; il
would do away with enthusiasm always
manifest at state conventions. A poor
man couldn't seriously think of being q
candidate under the direct nominating
system, unless he was backed by some
individual or corporation with bar
rel' of money and a disposition to tap
it," And man under such influences
is very rarely a public Official" but
more often political tool" for those
who backed him, because individuals
and corporations very seldom put up big
campaign funds, unless they know they
will get value received.
We can plainly see how the large city
daily papers would be selfishly interest
ed in extreme primary reform measures
The only way that any man would
stand ghost of show for nomina-
tion would be to open up a literary
bureau, and any candidate who serious
ly entered the race would have to have
the support of the city dailies, or at
least his share of them.
They have primary election law in
Minnesota. Among those who were
very instrumental in unearthing the
political rottenness of Mayor Ames and
his crowd. in Minneapolis was Hon.
Hovey G. Clark, whom the leading mag
azines of the country a few months
ago commended very highly for his
honesty and fearlessness as foreman of
the grand jury in bringing the guilty
ones to trial.
In speaking upon the results of the
working of the primary election law in
Minnesota Mr.. Clark recently wrote a
gentleman in this state as follows
My Dear SIR
l have yours of recent date
asking me as to the practical workings
of the primary election law.
l assume that you are familiar with
the text of the law and therefore only
give you the results of the actual practi-
cal workings of the same.
The results are
First:-The engendering of the bitter
est feeling between members of the
same party.
Second:-The voter in large cities is
without any adequate or Intelligent
guidance as to the personal fitness Of all
candidates, as to the partisan papers are
absolutely non committal as to the
qualifications of their own party's can
didates. y a ia
Third:-It makes nominations intoler-
ably expensive and laborious, discourage
ing the efficient and competent man
from competing and is responsible for
some VIGOROUSLY disgraceful nomina-
tions, without raising the standard of
the candidates.
1t means practically two elections
The successful nominee has now two
large bills of expense which are not de-
creased by the bitter enmities he has in
Cured in his own party. The success
full nominee is he who can make the
most acquaintance and can by any
means secure newspaper advertising.
Consequently the man in Office has
greatly the advantage OF the unknown
candidate.
1t is particularly offensive to the
judiciary, as it requires candidates to
advertise their qualifications in man
ner which is not in accordance with the
ethics Of the profession.
The expense of the primaries to the \
car di late is much greater than that Of
the actual election. The labor and per-
sonal solicitation necessary to secure, or
attempt to secure, the nomination are
SO distasteful to the average business
man that at our last election the repub- |
lican party had hard work to secure a |
candidate for mayor and incidentally |
might state that he was beaten while the |
balance of the ticket Outside of the aid |
ermen) was elected.
The present law is ideal in theory, but |
It is not practical. That a law may be |
so framed as to produce the results con-
is certainly possibly, but this |
phase of the matter leave to the law |
yers. etses
Yours very truly, = sfsss
(Signed) HOvEY G. CLARKE. 4.
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