Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1905-01-19

an essential part of the machinery of gov
eminent. Since government, therefore,
comes to us through parties, II
must have its initiative In party, pri-
maries where candidates are selected. me
primary, then, is the beginning OF gov
eminent, and as the character OF
stream Is determined by the character Oh
its fountain, so government VIII De no
purer than its source. 1t would seem
strange to thoughtful person that
while we carefully guard the ballot box
at the regular election we nave pdld out
little attention to the real source OF
elective power-the place where candl-
dates are selected. All kinds OF frauds
are perpetrated with impunity. The i'm
portance, therefore, of primary election
law, which shall as sacredly guard this
fountain of popular government as the
regular election Is now guarded by law
would seem to need no argument. In
deed one hears no objection to the gem
eral proposition that such law Is needed,
but there Is diversity OF views as TO the
details Of such a measure. Some gem
eral features, however, would seem to be
especially free from reasonable objection,
namely: That the party primaries should
all be held upon the same day and under
substantially the same general rules as
those which govern the general election;
that the law against perjury should OBJ
tain here as there; ana that all the ordi-
nary safeguards now thrown around the
general election should guard the primary
OdllOl DON. ItISOUdllAt 1 am VI the OplA-
ion that no one should be permitted to
vote at party primary who had not
identified himself with that party at the
last general election, because one OF the
evils Of the present system 10 that MEM
beers Of an opposing party will help nomi-
nate candidates upon another ticket often
for the express purpose OF having weak
ticket In opposition to theirs. OF course,
this kind OF political jugglery should be
prevented, II possible In any new system
that ma ha unnnfpd MANY states have
adopted primary election laws, perhaps
the most recent one being the state OF
Wisconsin. Among the provisions OF the
law In that state. as l understand II. Is
one practically providing for the election
Of United States Senators by the peo-
pie Ga contamination devoutly to be
wished here as everywherel. the law pro-
viding that candidates for that office
must run for nomination at the primary
election. and the candidate who wins at
the primary will be recommended to the
| Legislature as the partys nominee. or
course. this recommendation Is not com
| pulsOry because the constitution OF the
United States provides that Senators
| shall be chosen by the Legislature. but
/ II Is hardly probable that legislature
would be found which would disobey the
wishes OF the people mus expressed. l
ceive your careful attention. and that
a. wise bill will be finally agreed upon
and promptly enacted into law.
Congressional disappointment.
The re-appolntment OF the state into
congressional districts Is one OF the i'm
/ peratlve duties Of this legislature. The
last territorial appointment was made In
/ 1888, at which time the state was en-
/ titled to a representation Of seven In
i the congress OF the United States. In
1870 n new congressman was allotted TO
| Kansas under congressional appointment.
since which time this state has been rep
resented by a congressman-at-large. Sue
/ cesslve legislatures have failed to per-
form their duty in the re-apolntment OF