The San Francisco call., 1906-09-10
Direct Primary a Boon to Minnesota
By George A. Van Smith.


for be deprived of the right
of the precinct places
within single hour No gangs guard
possible discovery of the secret caucus by
honest voters The primary election light
of day. its integrity backed strong
with the sanction of the entire States
The registration every person demanding casting
ballot reduces the evil of repeating minimum
The circumstances under
the campaign documents addressed
the several candidates party preference coupled
with understanding opportunity
to record his will in eector
the polls and make him citizen instead of the payhing
of 'heelers' and special tools
TRUE WILL. OF THE PARTY RECORDED
Instead of party candidates being determined upon in
the first instance by insignificant fraction of
the membership party and that representing
that party's element per to per
the party's entire strength registered and
recorded Under the system bosses
have stood aghast in anticipation
political catastrophe had 8 per cent of their party's
strength been exhibited the called
selection of delegates nominating conventions
Under the order of things -eheeler' need
addle his brain about percentages people
their party matters. carefully they attend to
the selection of their candidates that in Minnesota
districts, strongly Republican primary election
is heavier than the general election poll
The official returns replete conclusive
arguments in favor of the direct primary its
appreciation adoption by the people With
the right nominated the right
if he chooses that he has approximately
political duty Especially is this if he in
whose political complexion is decided.
EXPERIENCE SHOWS ADVANTAGES.
The following concrete instances are taken from the
official in the Office of Secretary at
st. Paul:
primary election County only 1887 Republicans
voted in the county at the
weeks Two years Republican primary
general election. Douglas County. United
States Knute Nelson.
publican votes at the primary election in 1904 and only
1900 the general election. The Crow Wing
County turned 1904 Republicans the primary
tion only 1859 at the general election
Sherburne County. distinctly agricultural despite
fact that the primary election held the midst
of the farmers busiest has far failed
poll larger Republican at the primary
general election Hubbard, northern of
younger harvest fields
primary election time. held primary
At the first the county polled SO of the Repub
lican the general election
later s7h of it's Republican was
primary election worthy that
in the from which these
by substantial majorities
OLD METHOD IN STATE ELECTION.
Now. for the other side of it, viewed
of the practical politician machine
partisan During period Republican
in Minnesota has twice delegate conventions
and nominated State tickets Minnesota is normally
publican about 60000 Presidential
that Preliminary the State convention there
so-caled bitter fight delegates between the
faction supporting Judge Collins resigned
the Supreme bench for the Robert Dunn
There was plenty Of bitterness Collins and Hon
Bob" concerned. Republicans plain every
Republicans with partic-
in the ante-convention bitterness They knew it
game. When the proper time came there
would be select delegates county
tions, and they in would select delegates to the
State convention. There would be states by the
leaders each faction The could pick
the If he happened upon caucus where
both evidence.
There equal Likelihood might ranple into
statesman other than his choice for Governor of
Commonwealth The discreet citizen
fresde otherwise employed his night The
patriots attended the
their patriotic seriously hampered
by perncious feehoder who thoughtessy
they permitted to participate the selection
gates.
difficulties in the of self-sacrihcing
gentlemen united tneir country but hone
lessly divided which eminent save
finally overcome by the selection something
the by manipu-
than Republicans the
Honest Bobs" friends enough to cap
ture committee credentials, by excusng from
Collins Republican party
Minnesota Honest Bob the partys choice
VOTERS REBEL AGAINST SYSTEM
plain everyday citizen got in his work with HE
ballot President carried the State by nearly
100000 Every Congress non,i-
mated by the people at primary elections elected by
majortes ranging from 1900 to 10000 So few Demo-
elected to the Legislature customary
House organization places was
dispensed with Honest Bob" defeated by Demo-
unknown to IS per of newspaper readers
nomination by delegate conven-
which possibly the counties of
the State We're in some represented
all probability the result been little drer-
had the supporters OF Collins Republican
convention by raroading Honest Bobs delegates The
Republicans Minnesota utterly to appreciate the
in their behalf of Collins