The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-20
A New Primary Plan.

& SCI III
A New Primary Plan.
Representative II. A. Rider Of Little
Falls has introduced bill extending
the scope of the primary election sys-
tenn to the nomination Of state officers.
His bill does not do away with the
state convention, but requires delegates
to the convention to be chosen at the
primary, at the same time that nomina-
lions are made for congress, for county
officers and for the legislature.
This principle seems sound, and If
the primary is to be extended to state
officers, it must be limited in some
such way. The direct nomination OF
state officers by popular vote cannot
be practical method. It is certain
to result in many candidates taking
the field who have only local following,
and hence there will be nominations
made by minority. If delegates are
elected at the primary, the people will
have chance to express their choice
on the main issue, the governorship, and
if no candidate has a popular majority,
the convention will arrive at compro-
mise choice. With the primary system
there will be no bolts and no packed
caucuses, for there will be no local
| conventions. ...- 49, -. .-e
The Rider bill is lame in some de-
tails. It provides for the selection Of
delegates by senatorial districts and
allows four to each district. In the
first place, the districts are not all Of
equal size. Most of the southern dis
tricts are relatively small and are only
allowed one representative in the lower
house. Others are so large that they
are given three and even four mem
bers. The Rider bill would be less I'M
equal if districts were allowed as many
delegates, or twice as many delegates,
as they have senators and representa-
! tives in the legislature. This is pre-
cisely the scheme followed in appor-
tioning delegates for the national con-
ventions. -.
Such a plan would still be open to
objection, and it would be the same
objection heard in national conventions,
where the democratic states of the
south are on equal footing with north
ern republican states. Under the Rider
| bill Scott county, which cast 1,13S
votes for Roosevelt at the last election,
would have as many delegates as Otter
Tail, which cast 4,642, or Goodhue
|
legislative district, comprising Lincoln
Lyon and Yellow Medicine counties
and casting 1864 votes for Roosevelt
would have no more delegates thar
Dodge county, which cast only l,499.
There is no reason why Minnesota
should follow this unjust system of ap
portionment. The Rider bill could be
made just as effective, and entirely
free from discrimination, if it con
tinued the present system Of apportion
ing delegates. 1t can be amended t.
allow the selection of delegates b.
counties. The state committees Of eacl
party could fix the apportionment &C
cording to the party vote. 49, 49,.
The motive Of the plan in the Ride
bill, grouping delegates by senatorial
districts, is very evident. It is de
signed to kill the influence Of the large
, counties in the state convention. I
= would result in seven delegates from
+ Hennepin and five from Ramsey, am
would make it impossible to unite eithe
a of the twin cities on a single candi
= date. This same device has been in
troduced at previous sessions, but ha
been defeated by the strenuous pro
test Of the city delegations.