Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1905-01-12

that, too without interference or
meddling from persons belonging to
other political parties. The last legis-
lature complied with the requests of
the representatives of three counties
| (Wayne, Kent and Muskegon) for u
change in the system of making nom
nations for city, county and legisla-
tive offices. In some particulars the
operation OF these laws has been salts
factory and in others decidedly unsat-
isfactory. Glaring defects in the laws
have been pointed out by experience
and these defects you will be called
upon to remedy by appropriate legisla-
ton. Either by party registration, or
In some other way, interference or
members OF one political party in the
affairs of another party should be
made very difficult, and prevented al
together il possible. If party regis
tration be adopted rs the plan to work
| the desired reform, then registration
should be required a sufficient time in
advance of the primary to show that
the voters who register do so to give
| themselves the right TO participate in
the affairs of the party whose prin-
ciples they believe in, and not for the
purpose of giving themselves the right
! TO vote for individual candidates for
nomination by some political party
other than their own.
Corruption at primaries or at cleo
! tions should be guarded against in
, every possblJ way The question as
to whether the expenditure Of money
by candidates for nomination to office
and of candidates for election should
be limited in amount is an important
+ one and should receive your most care
! ful consideration, The man of moder-
ate means ought not to be put at dis
advantage I'm a contest for nomination
or election with man of great wealth.
Legislation should be had that will
permit the people of such localities as
favor n change in present methods OF
selecting party delegates and party
candidates to make such changes as
they deem desirable and best. In this
| connection | desire To quote the Ian
guage of the declarations upon which
we went TO the people at the last cleo
ton: &
we favor a general primary elec-
ton law that will enable every munich
pal and political district in the state
10 decide for itself the method by
which il shall nominate its candidates
for public office and delegates to the
state convention.
I'VE believe that the selection OF
candidates for public office should be
protected from improper control and
faint OF corruption and should be SO
conducted as the judgment and will OF
the people in their respective counties
and election districts may demand and
direct.
I'VE further believe it wise and de-
Sirable that all caucuSes and primaries
relating 10 the selection of delegates
to state conventions should be neld
upon the same day, and recommend to
the incoming legislature the adoption
of such law. with proper details for
its satisfactory enforcement"
The task before you is no easy one.
Experience in three OF the counties
will be Of service to YOU in the prep
aration of a bin TO put these party de-
clarations into effect. The experience
OF other states that have had primary
laws in forge and operation will also
aid YOU Whore evil exists. ii should
be remedied and new evils guarded
against The people of Michigan are
entitled to- and should be given not
the most radical or extreme, but the
very best law on this subject that your
wisdom can devise.
Continuous trouble, much expensive
litigation. and great injustice to the
interests of the people of this state are
occasioned by carelessly drawn legis-
lative enactments. Every possible eff
fort should be made to guard against |
the defects OF careless construction of |
bills. There should be no shadow of |
doubt as TO the exact meaning Of |
every law you enact. Every provision |
should be perfectly plain and clear. |
and in every instance the constitutions
atty of contemplated legislation |
should be carefully scrutiniZed. In |
this connection | would impress upon |
you my firm conviction that the ten
dency of nearly all legislative bodies |
is towards too much, rather than too |
little, legislation. 1t is the qualitr |
rather than the quantity Of your work
by which you will be judged A short,
active, businesslike session is greatly, |
and ! believe justly, desired by your
constituents.