The San Francisco call., 1906-09-10


domination of boss o
1t was the adoption of of nomination by
primary elections that the Minnesota political
his congo He is and unlamented.
he given his tfcket-of leave. Today
most forgotten by the people State
attend to their own political business
The student of direct primary systems ultimately
the Minnesota system the ground work
Of his theories The explanation snlple Minnesota
primary election proved
the State from the boss who the system
higher 1t is practical Ii works is simple 1t
is open to fewer real objections similar en-
acted by other their efforts to free themselves
from the thralldom of the provides
realized approach to the
by parties
GROWS FROM AN IMPERFECT SYSTEM
The Minnesota primary election system, like
camel grew in the tent of its enemy When
political Arab, the boss walked. outside. The
Minnesota boss permitted imperfect primary
system to be experimental with in one county. The
people recognizing its worth its imperfectons
manded its correction whole State
Inc lnslstent popular demand has resulted in the
trammeled choice by political parties
of the men who shall them in their
the polls the excep-
ton. due the appreciation
one of the leaders of the fight for the system
served only primary
Rather foohardy than would be the thought
molder who in Minnesota would attempt to decry the
primary election system.
The provisions the Minnesota primary law
while necessarily manifold. wise cumbersome
intricate First it should in mind that,
previously explained State administrative
law Otherwise. it the selection of Judge, Congress-
Sheriff Alderman the people decide in botN the
CANDIDATES A sMALL FEE
Any qualified eligible any office in the gift Of
the electorate become nomination
Of his party that consulting the boss
The public spirited citizen extinct who is
willing to sacrifice way to serve
his ward in city council his the Legisa-
ture may offer his services his through to
the people without humating himself prostituting him
self to the dictates any time not less
than ten weeks general election any citizen
qualified to h the Office present himself to
the County Auditor if voted for entirely
within one county to the Secretary
for in county on fling a prescribed
affidavit and the of fee become candi-
date for nomination the political party declared
affiation
The fling offices by the electorate of single
county $1o $40 The prescribed
adeyit sets forth the residence of the par
ticularty his qualifications a reeites that
at the last general election political
whose nomination seeks; generally sup
candidates party majority of the
candidates of that elecon that
he intends to affiliate with and vote for the
that at the election followed by
statement his candidacy Auditor
Secretary of State the shall place
ballot
SEPARATE BALLOTS FOR EACH PARTY.
declarations twenty days before
primary election, Tuesday before
the general election. IMMEDIATELY
filing primary tickets up OF
counties And here is the
Australian ballot ballots
party and the the ticket
party.
departure Australian ballot was
designed preserve party integrity
party entirely of
parties 1t Incorporated original
law with rather strenuous
opposition present system.
Experience senced the honest objecors
opposition this provision based
theory compelled elector declare party
amliationstha disclose his attitude partisan
questonsa safeguard thrown
voter by Australian system
This objection very logically by the fact that
if there were partisan restrictions
party very easily organized nominate
or candidate the opposition ticket This
claim was realized the first experiment in Hennepn
County the rather bitter experience gained there
coupled a Legislature almost exclusively composed
of members party resulted in the ballot
VOTER MUST DECLARE ALLEGIANCE
The party ballots uniform in makeup color.
They are prepared by County gen.
ballots and handled by exactly the
election machinery The ballot is made with the
names according
to the fling is printed with absolute
and impartial rotation The candidate whose
at the head the ballot will be placed
last on the ballot,
The primary held the first of three regis
traton days. polls opened closed con-
formity with the rules governing them the general
election day The officials the The gives
his name Clerks two
the Judges the
raised by extremist patriots who objected
partisan The right of the voter receive
party Ballot requests be challenged, If
challenged OATH satisfy judges
by generally the
of that party preceding general election
intends to support nominees at the ensuing election
insignificant percentage of illiteracy within her
borders test Of TT