Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-09-24

consented to go back to the old way, even
where earnest primary advocates have suf-
fered. defeat at the hands of the hoi polloi
in its congregated incoherency Of action.
The time-honored convention way, in
many instances registering the judgment
of a bunch of clever leaders, appealed to
the clans who believed in regularity above
all else The new method appeals just as
strongly to the man of independent mind
and to the faddist in politics. The old way
provided more fun and excitement, but the
new scheme keeps aspiring candidates and
their friends guessing in an exquisitey
anxious manner.
The deliverer of punches of votes has
little or no show under the direct primary
system. The manipulation of ballots is
barred, unless he be willing to take des-
perate chances. The peddler of the electoral
privilege and the huckster of his citizen
ship are alike faded and gone, at least to
a very large extent This must be re-
garded compensating advantage for any
mistakes the general group may make.
The forceful, ignorant man, in control of
gangs of heelers, has found his occupation
gone. The timid citizen. alone in the booth,
comes into his own beyond any chance Of
interference. He may discharge his cher
ished privilege without fear and whom he
favors gets his vote In a clean fashion.
Douglas county has just passed through
an experience with the direct nomination
of candidates for county offices by the
people themselves, and the result is viewed
with some dubious considerations by all
parties concerned. Part of this doubt is
due to the uncertainty of the law itself,
which has been given a greater variety
of Interpretation probably than any statute
ever enacted in Nebraska. This had more
or less OF a depressing effect on its ap-
plication, because neither voters nor on
Gals seemed to understand just exactly
what was required or expected, and the re-
suit was that the great mass Of the voters
refrained from taking any part in the cleo
ton. OF the 5000 OF more voters in
Douglas county less than 5000 cast ballots
at the primary election held last Tuesday.
This can scarcely be charged to indiffer-
ence on the part of the public as to the
candidates for office, but is rather due to
the uncertainty generally expressed as to
the operation of the law.
In Omaha the election was conducted as
nearly as possible in conformity to the
provisions of the statute, and the scenes
at the registration booths were familiar
enough, although complicated with the ad-
3 dition of the machinery for holding an
election The voting was under the sys-
, last fifteen years, not detail of the bal
rloting according to the general law. being
, overlooked. A great many voters hest
tated at the proposal to register political
aftiliation before voting and some declined
to vote at all. Another provision that was
} more or less annoying was the require
ment for declaring the political choice a
Z second time on casting the ballot. This did
. not deter any, however, who had gone 10
: the trouble Of preparing a ballot. Another
) feature of the law that occasioned work
this time for the judges and clerks is the
rotation Of the names on the ballot In
stead Of the candidates for ONCE appearing
l in alphabetical order. they are required to
be changed every so often. so that each
candidate has a chance to be first the
r ticket. This complicated the counting of
3 the votes and delayed the returns until an
hour, almost late as is the customary
2 experience at general elections. While the
machinery worked smoothly enough, the de-
tails of the law are such that its first APP
l plication can hardly be referred to as an
unqualified success
: Experience has pointed out the defects of
the law, and it is likely that steps will be