The Elbert County tribune., 1906-07-19
Colorado Needs 1t.

II the people OF Colorado are thorough
ly alive to their needs regarding reform
in election methods and cleaner state
government they will lose no time in
adopting the direct primaries. And it is
universally conceded that the sovereign
people OF this peerless western empire
are awake to all their needs.
The pioneer state in the union in the
new movement of election reforms was
Minnesota; perhaps because the state
most required it. Nevertheless, the peo
Pile there demanded better form of
government, and they got it. As the
Minnesota law furnishes model upon
which other states are seeking to improve
their affairs, review OF that states
law is interesting. Briefly, its essential
features, as given by w. ID. Washburn,
Jr., of Minneapolis, are as follows:
"The Minnesota primary election law
involves the return to first principles in
"a democratic government. Its object is
to permit the citizen to vote for whom
he pleases without restraint. 1t applies
to all candidates for elective Offices, for
district, county and city; and for school,
park and library boards in cities having
one hundred thousand or more inhabi-
tants.
at is held seven weeks before election,
with the use of the Australian ballot
system. No party can have a place on
the official ballot unless it cast 10 per
cent of the total vote in the previous
election, or files petition signed by 10
per cent of the qualified voters. All can
didates must file their intention with the
county auditor to run at least twenty
days before the primary, the fee being
$40 for county officer and $40 for a can
didate for an Office covering two coun.
ties or more.
"Two weeks before the primary, the
county auditor must prepare separate
ton. Such ballots must be printed
twice in full in the official paper of the
county. Rotation in place upon the bal
lot is provided, so that each candidate
appears first upon the ballot an equal
number of times.
"In the cities the clerk must give pub
lie notice of the time and place of hold
ing the election, and must post the
names of the candidates at each city
polling place.
Judges and clerks are appointed un.
der the general election law. Ballot
boxes are provided for each party, and
one box for such women as wish to vote
in school elections. No voter may re
ceive ballot unless he has registered
and he is required to cast ballot of his
own party, which must be the party fol
which he voted in the last election.
"This machinery thus provides that
I the voter be permitted to cast his vote
without any restraint.
"All well informed persons who have
| studied this system admit it has defects
but they are of minor character. The
principal complaint made about the
clause is that it compels the voter to de
clare his political affiliations when hi
asks for his ballot. Students OF reform
are now advocating change which will
place the names of all candidates of al
parties on blanket ballot, permitting
the voter to select as nominees any one
for any office, either of his own party OF
of another. The vanishing bosses op
pose this because it wipes out party lines
and develops more independent voter
Taken all in all, as the primary law
is now in force, the people are we'll sat
isfied with it,
Colorado and other progressive states
will be taking mighty stride forward
when they adopt any good law which
shall bring more closely into the keeping
and care of the people their God -giver
right of government of the people, fol
the people and by the people.