Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-05-10

pense of the taxpayers. And he who
has not two friends per 100 members
of his party who want to sign a pc
tition to put his name on the party
nominating ballot, is a very poor stick
to ask the people to trust him with
an office.
The Bill Provides
that on petition of two per cent of
the party vote the county clerk will
print the candidates name on party
nominating ballot. If he receives the
highest number of his party votes at
the nominating election he has his
party's nomination and his name will
be printed on the official ballot as it's
candidate None but registered men,
bers Of the party can sign his petit
tion. None but members of a party
can vote at the nominating election,
but this does not apply to the general
election in June for public officers.
This enables members of a party to
make its nominations without inter
ference by other parties or mercenary
voters. Every political party is given
the right to the sole and exclusive
use of all of its party name. This will
prevent candidates for spite as well
as fusion.
Political parties casting 25 per cent
or more OF the total vote must nomi-
nate all their candidates under this
law. 1t does not apply to city cleo
tions in towns of less than 2OOO pop
ulation
Independent candidates and political
parties casting less than 20 per cent
of the total vote must continue to
nominate as they do now under the
Australian ballot law, which is Sec
2791 B. & c. Codes.
Candidates for nomination for the
legislative assembly may pledge the
people in their petition that they will
or will not, vote for the peoples choice |
for Unite States Senator. regardless
of their personal preference. The
bill provides for nominations for that
office.
Senator Mitchell and many others
believe this will prevent the nomina.
tion Of any candidate fer the legisla.
ture who does not pledge himself to !
vote for the peoples choice. and thus !,
result practically in the direct elec.
ton of our senators in congress. The
legislature will simply ratify the peo-
pies choice in much the same way
that the president is elected.
The judges and clerks of the gen.
eral election act also at the primary
nominating election All the pos
ceedinss for each party so far as pos
sible are the same as at the general
election. Each party has it's separate
ballot, but the nominating election is
at the same time and place for all
parties subject to the bill. The vote
is by secret ballot, which gives every
man an equal opportunity before the
people Of his party.
1t does not destroy political parties |
but provides for their government by
their registered members just as a
city Is governed by it's registered !
voters.
This law does not make any change |
in the Australian ballot or the meth.
cd of voting at regular general cleo
tions. 1t provides for opening the
registration books from September |
goth to October Goth before each |
presidential election.
Public officers will more faithfully |
serve the people because their politi-
cal life will depend always upon the |
people and no one else.
If you enact this law you place the
governing power more directly in the
hands of the people, and therefore
carry IL a stem naarar IN tho Auarf-