The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1905-01-14

ID matter TOT cOnBratuihtion, anu l
believe that the necessary appropria-
tions to maintain this standard should
be granted by you.
Primary Elections.
A subject suggested for your most
earnest consideration Is that Of pri-
mary elections. Too much care cannot
be taken to protect the selection OF
candidates for public ONCE from i'm
proper control and faint of corruption.
Such selection should be SO safe
guarded that the Judgment and will
OF the respective political parties In
any county or election district may find
free and untrammeled expression, and
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 a
Change In the system of making nomi-
nations for city, county and legislative
offices. In some particulars the opera
tion OF these laws has been satisfactory
and In others decidedly unsatisfactory.
Glaring defects in the laws hage )been
pointed out by experience and these
defects you will be called upon to
remedy by appropriate legislation.
Either by party registration, or in
some other way, interference of men,
bers of one political party in the affairs
of another party should be made very
difficult, and prevented altogether IL
possible II party registration be
adopted as the plan to work the de-
sired 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 principles they be-
lieve in, and not for the purpose of
giving themselves the right to vote
for individual candidates for nomina-
ton by some political party other than
their own
Corruption at primaries or at cleo
tions should be guarded against In
every possible 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
full consideration. The man OF moder-
ate means ought not to be put at a
disadvantage in contest for nominal
ton or election with a man OF great
wealth.
Legislation should be had that will
permit the people Of such localities as
favor a change in present methods of
selecting party delegates and party
candidates to make such changes as
they deem desirable and best. In this
connection I desire to quote the Ian
guage Of the declarations upon which
we went to the people at the last cleo
ton:
eve favor n general primary election
law that will enable every municipal and
political district In the state to decide for
itself the method by which It shall nom
mate its candidates for public office and
delegates to the state convention"
eve believe that the selection of candi-
dates for public office should be protected
| from improper control and faint OF cor
| ruption and should be so conducted as the
judgment and will of the people In their
respective counties and election districts
| may demand and direct"
Eve further believe II wise and desirable
| that all caucuses and primaries relating to
| the selection of delegates to state conven-
| tons should be held upon the same day,
| and recommend to the incoming legisla-
| ture the adoption OF such n law. with
proper details for It's satisfactory enforce
| ment"
The task before you Is no easy one.
| Experience in three of the counties
will be Of service to you in the prepare
ton of bill to put these party declara-
tions into effect. The experience Of
other states that have had primary
laws in force and operation will also
aid you. Where evil exists, 1t should
be remeded and new evil 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.
Advice to Legislators.
Continuous trouble, much expensive
litigation, and great injustice to the
interests of the people of this state
are occasioned by carelessly drawn
legislative enactments. Every possible
effort 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 constitutionality OF
contemplated legislation should be
carefully scrutinized. In this con-
nection would impress upon you my
firm conviction that the tendency Of
nearly all legislative bodies is towards
too much, rather than too little. legis-
lation. IT Is the quality rather than
the quantity Of your work by which
you will be judged. A short, active.
business-like session Is greatly, and
believe justly, desired by your con-
stituents.
Senators and representatives, the well
fare of the state of Michigan Is large
ly in your hands. The responsibility
is great. You have been selected by
the people to deal With the problems
which are now confronting you. The
people will rightfully pass Judgment
upon the acts of both the executive