The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1905-03-04

He fails to give any reasons, good, bad
or indifferent, for thinking that ''the.bil
will meet with favor in the eyes of
large majority OF the voters of the state"
and We seriously question the correct
ness Of the statement.
We must go back to the days of pack
ed caucuses. not very long ago either,
when INSCRIPTIONS political bosses and
their ward heelers had the power, unre-
restrained by law of any kind, to dictate
party nominations to find the cause for
our present primary election laws. It
was to guarantee to the members of the
different parties and to the parties as
whole absolute freedom In choosing can
dldates that this law was enacted.
Even under the old go-as-you please
system party organizations were to de-
gree protected from interference by the
INSCRIPTIONS voter and the voter who,
selfish reasons, refrains from acknowI-
edging his political creed. The one
could be prevented from taking part and
the other, Of course, would not. Under
the present primary law this principle OF
non-interfsrence is given due force aud
effect. Because it thus becomes u legal
institution makes 1t none the less par
ty matter. The only reason why party
primaries are not held separately, as be-
fore they fell under the restrictions OF
the law, is the great saving in public ex-
pense in holding them all at one time
ana at one place under the supervision
of one board. Suppose that these legal
lied primaries were held separately, as
they would be but for the reason above
given, in order to act with one or the
party the voter would, IN the very nature
of the case, have to openly make choice
and could rightfully be required to iden-
tify himself as bona tide member OF
the party so chosen. The law cannot
rightfully deprive a party of the prlve-
lege of testing the right of voter to
take part in its prim aries, and that such
primaries are held il connection with
the primaries of other parties does not
affect the question.
But protection of party is least impor-
tant. The present law at the same
time protects the voter from interior.
ence and guarantees the secrecy of his
ballot as between rival candidates OF his
own party. This, the prime purpose and
bene6cent effect of the law, is lost sight
of by many .sircere advocates of primary
law reform. Their view of the vital
point is obscured by the cumbersome
legal machinery required.
Party organizations are bene6cent
public institutions. The law recognizes
them as such; and it has come to be
universally conceded that party rivalry
is of great service in regulating The po-
litical affairs of the state and nation.
1t is plain that the tendency of the Has
bell bill would be to obllterate party
lines and wipe out party organizations.
If, as is generally argued, the end to be
desired is to encourage the tiu.id and
thereby assure full attendance of vot-
ers at the primaries there would be moth
ing gained in holding such primaries,
because they could just as we'll wait
until election day and make their choice
fual. Why require the voters to get to.
gether twice (thereby imposing uneces-
sary trouble and expense) to complete a
work that, according to that argument.
could be; just az we'll done at once?
Why not dispense with primaries alto
gether?
In effect this bill is an abjeot admis-
sion of the power Of the political tyrant
who would govern his following with
1.-THE big stick" 1t recognizes political
cowardice as excusable and sees not the
virtue. of political Independence. It
ought not to puss, and We predict that it
will not. 4. 3. $780, ~" Is. =
The voter who has the courage Of his
convictions and gives due attention 70