The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-02-04
DIRECT PRIMARY Law.
Being Urged on WoShinatOn
Legislature by Seattle
Civic Union.

cd the light for the passage of direct
primary law at the present session of
the legislature. The bill which has
the support of this organization was
drawn by Reuben w. Jones, of King
county, for two terms member of the
house OF representatives at Olympia,
and is modelled after the statutes now
IN force in Minnesota and Wisconsin,
which are said to EN- body the best d.
rect primary legislation thus far en-
acted.
At meeting Of the civic union held
January 10, Mr.. Jones was heard on
the subject Of the direct primary, and
strong resolutions were passed in it's
| favor.
The friends of the movement contend
that it is more important reform than
the Australian ballot law and will
spread as widely over the country as
the ballot reform has done. The Aus
tralian system was fought through al
most entirely during the decade 1889
to 1892, and is now esta blished in ev-
cry state in the Union save one, and
few politicians would express desire
to return to the old method.
The direct primary movement is
about four years old, but Minnesota,
Oregon, South Carolina and Wisconsin
are among the states which have pass
ed the measure, and in the legislatures
of some sixteen other states there are
bills introduced. Among these latter
are New York, Illinois, Michigan.
| Pennsylvania, Indiana, California.
Missouri, Kansas, New Jersey, Mary
land, Colorado, Montana and the Da.
kotas. The governors of Illinois and
Montana have recently recommended
to their legislatures this reform. In
Wisconsin Gov. La Toilette has recent
| ly come into national prominence in
winning prolonged fight upon this
issue, and is to speak in South Dakota
during the coming month in favor of a
direct primary bill.
The friends of the measure claim for
it not only that it is practical and sue
ceeds in interesting the rank and file
of the voters in the primary election,
but also that it is the only logical
method of bringing the people in touch
with the important work of determin-
ing the candidates who are to be plac-
ed upon the party ticket. The pres
ent system, particularly in the cities,
fails to bring out more than five or ten
per cent of the voters to the primaries.
1t is claimed that under this plan
seventy five to ninety per cent of the
voters take part in the selection of
nominees. At South Carolina pri-
mary contest the direct primary was
participated in by $4,000 voters,
whereas the previous election brought
out vote Of only 10000. The con-
tention is made that nominations are
apt, under the present system, to rep
resent boss or clique and do not ex-
press the wish of a majority Of the
party.
In Minnesota the law provides that
the primary be held, or, the primary
vote cast, on the first day of the regis
tration, and hence the voter is put to
no additional loss uf time from his
business, since he makes himself elig-
IDLE to vote and casts his ballot for the
nomination of his party candidates at
the same time. This feature has been
held to be in part the cause of the
showing that has been made in that
state by the direct primary system, 80
per cent Of the vote cast at the election
having participated at the primary.
1t is claimed that wherever the d.
rect primary has been tried, it has i'm
proved the type of men presented Tor
office, lessened the number of men OF
bad character or record nominated,
brought stay -at-home voters to pri-
maries and elections, and increased
mems interest in their political par
ties by giving them right directly to
influence the selection of their parties
candidates. 1t is claimed that its val
ne In inducing our best citizens to en-
ter politics is already felt, and will
hereafter do much throughout the
country, az the plan becomes universal.