The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1905-10-11

whether or not candidates Tor the
next municipal election shall be
nominated by the direct primary
system or IN convention Is a auea-
ton that Is worrying the republican
city central committee The demo
cratic committee Is up against the
same proposition. but II their on-
pononts adopt the new plan. they
will DO Obliged 10 follow suit.
II Is needless 90 say that the mem
beers OF the republican machine who
comprise the committee. do not want
The direct primary. and Il Is only
question with them as Ia whether or
not public opinion will force them
into line They are busy nov side
stepping the queries Of constituents
who want 20 know what they are
going "a DO about a. The unauat-
fled endorsement Of tho plan that
has been given by the Young Mems
Republican club and the party news
raper organs has made the situation
rtill more embarrassing
II Is now pretty generally conced-
Cd that the last legislature made a
mistake when II turned down the d.
rect primary bill. and the far-seeing
members Of the party want 10 make
good as Eoou as possible, The party
newspapers are In favor OF IL only
because IL would give them far
greater prestige IN a campaign. and
because II would materially add To
their financial receipts In aavertis-
ing candidates
Bowling 10 what they consider tn
be the inevitable, the politicians are
willing. as = Falc. 20 give the sya-
tenn a trial Many Of them believe
they viii be able To run things quite
~ we'll with the direct primary as
without Il. while the corporations
will depend upon the newspapers
which they control to carry out their
plans The ward politicians figure
that BY thorough organization. by
stationing workers in every ward
enough votes ears be eallected TO
elect any Of thssr men. Their idea
Is that the rest Of the votes viii be
scattered among 80 many candidates
that Il Will nos be n difficult mat
ter 20 elect a man whom the ma
chine favora.
However. Reuben W. Jones and a
fsx other pioneer advocates OF the
direct primary. look askance at the
plan OF the parties 20 put a direct
primary system into effect next
spring They ara dubious about any
direct nomination system which he
parties might pat into effect. fear
lnE that il would Be 80 inadequate
as Ia give the whole direct primary
reform a black eye. Some question
has been raised as 90 the authority
81 the parties 70 invoke a direct
nomination system without addl-
tioaal legislation. but The electiOn
law Of this state gives the party or
Eaalzasioas all the authority that IL
required.
Amy system which the parties
might adopt. however. would sim
ply be Tor the benefit of members
o. the parties. not having the sweep
ing effect OF a state primary law
Voters outside the parties would
have no voice In making the nom
nations. The republican city com
mittee has the power to put u into
effect next spring. but owing 20 its
natural leaniuga In the other direc-
ton. Will undoubtedly demand an
unqualified expression Of opinion
from the party before adopting the
new plan Several members OF the
committee say they do not want 20
adopt Il until the convention gives
II the stamp Of approval. In which
erse the system could not be put
into effect until the following cleo
ton.
Otto Case. county clerk and chair
man Of the committee. Is not so