The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-17
F,DumOnt Smith, the Irrepress-
ibIe, Has a New Plan.
Scheme For Tightening the
Party Lines.
NEW PRIMARY LAW.
Explains How lie Would Like to
Arrange Things.
Committee Made Up Of County
Chairmen.

If Fred Dumont Smith is reelected TO
the state senate this year he announces
that he will introduce a primary cleo
ton bill. 1t might be mentioned Incl
dentally that Smith is long on pre-
election legislation. He would not al
low any voter to vote at a party pri-
mary unless he swears that he has vo-
ted the ticket of that party at the
preceding election. He would also have
the party machinery organized in jan
uary of each election year. He would
have a separate primary for the cleo
ton of precinct committeeman, and
have these precinct committeeman elect
their county chairman, and members
of the senatorial, judicial and congress
sional committees. He would have the
state committee composed of all the
county chairmen, with an executive
committee chosen from these, upon
whom shall devolve the regular work
of a state committee. Sena tor Smith
has the following to say of his plan:
In the first place we do not want a
direct primary election for state nOmi-
neeS such as they have in Mississippi
and other southern states. At the most
it should be made optional with the
county committees to have a direct pr1-
mary election for county officers where
desired. In other words the law should
be made flexible and discretion given
to adopt either a direct primary OF
delegate convention.
Let us illustrate. Suppose that an
entire county ticket is to be renomina-
ted, all incumbents who have given
satisfaction. Then a delegate conyen-
ton could be chosen, and that conven-
ton in addition to nominating county
officers could select the delegates to
the state convention.
but if there is a strong contest be-
tween aspirants for county officers and
it is thought advisable, resort may be
had to direct primary the voter vot-
ing for his choice for the Office But
is no case should we dispense with our
state conventions. They are important
parts of our party machinery, helpful
in many ways, bringing members OF
the same party together, arousing en-
thusiasm, formulating a declaration of
party principles, electing delegates to
the national conventions and are in
short Indispensable. And it must not
be lost sight of that this government
of ours is not a true democracy but a
representative government and the
more nearly we approach party govern
nent to the government OF the country
the better. Tt is only IN the case of
contest for county officers that a dl-
rect primary can be prohtably employ
ed. To undertake it in the state at
large, abolishing state conventions
would be a profound mistake.
There are three capital evils in our
present system of making nomina-
lions: Corruption at the primaries, by
repeating. and bribery.
Voting at primaries by members of
other parties, men who do not intend
to support the ticket. And lastly con-
tests, carried into the conventions re-
sulting in factional bitterness and en-
dangering party success.
IF these three evils can be eradi-
Gated, it is sufficient.
''To this end, first it should be made
a misdemeanor for a voter to vote
more than once at a primary, to vote
outside his ward or precinct, to ac-
cept pay for voting. or to engage in
any fraudulent practice.
Second every voter if challenged
should be compelled to swear that he
voted that party ticket at the pre-
ceding election Except in the case of
new voters just coming of voting age),
in order to be eligible. 1t is asking
but little of voter to affiliated with
a party two years before he is per-
mitted a voice in its control. In no
other way can this matter be safe
guarded. To merely require a pledge
that the voter viii support the ticket
at the ensuing election amounts to
nothing. Make him swear that he
voted the ticket at the last election.
make him if challenged swear to an
the other qualifications, and impose
the usual penalties of perjury for
ealse oath. Make the primary election