The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-18
Weakness of the Primary.

L He pIIWdIN caIlpalSn, Wn1Cn mas
just been concluded, is the fourth since
the primary law superseded conventions
in this city. It would be rather strange
If i'll that time the public had not found
some objections to the primary, dis
covered some weaknesses and demanded
some changes. There have been
criticisms leveled at the primary sys-
# tenn and it is important before any
steps are taken to extend it to the state
ticket to consider what they are.
The direct primary, it will be remem-
bered, was applied first to a single city,
in order that the system might be
tested before extending it to other por-
ticns of the state. 1t gave, such gen.
eral satisfaction in this city that it was
later: extended to congressional dis
tricts, legislative districts, counties and
in fact, to all offices except those for
which incumbents are chosen by the
vote of the whole state. Before ex-
tending it farther it should be under
stood that there are some failures Of
the primary system to come up to ex-
l.pectations. ...... 49, -.
There is first the probability of min
oritY nominations This is not danger.
| Gus as some say nor unconstitutional
since we are continually choosing Of
Ulcers by pluralities rather than MAORI
sites. Still the people do not accept
with enthusiasm candidate named by
l5 or 20 per cent of the vote. The
state of Illinois has endeavored to
avoid the minority nomination by pro-
viding in its new primary law that
where no candidate has a majority the
nomination shall be thrown into con-
; ycntion of delegates chosen on the pri-
mary day under the same law by which
the primary was authorized. The law
i was attempted to be arranged SO that
| the strong man at the primary would
4 be strong man in the convention, but it
Il has not always worked out that way.
Another thing which makes the peo-
4 pie tcsty with the primary is the Juggling
4 Of the judiciary into the scramble.
They would prefer not to see candidates
for judgeships hurrying about from
meeting to meeting, extolling them
selves, passing out cards and assuring
everybody that they were with the
plain people. Judges cannot always be
! with the plain people, since they often
have the duty Of protecting property
as well as persons under the forms IF
I law.
$z Anyway one would rather not
see the candidates for judgeships max
Is ing themselves quite 50 cheap. The
Il people feel the same way about the
u official boards in the cities. It ought
q to be possible to keep the school, library
4 and park boards out Of these scrambles.
u but in the present primary they appear
il to be deeper in it than any other class
h of nominees.
It ought to be possible to refer all
such nominations and the judicial 1omi-
nations to properly elected delegates
ana it ought to be made obligatory
upon the delegates of all parties to make
an honest effort to unite on candidates
FL for these Offices before proceeding to
choose nominees Of their party. In all
probability the judiciary and boards
BY this means could be kept out Of
! politics entirely
4 There are other minor objections J to
the direct primary but they are not Ct
such a character as to disturb public
confidence in it as system Of nonina
1 tions. The main objections to it are
1 that it allows and incites too many i'm
possible candidates. and that it drags
into the arena of politics many offices
which are not the legitimate prey OF
party managers.