Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-01-09

In caucuses and conventions the Lead
| er. the alert and successful, organiz
er, the man ready with speeches and
motions. the INSCRIPTIONS manipula
Etor, .-nds his completest opportunity
for influence. Some Of the things
I done may be innocent and some of
the things done may be wrong and
vicious, but whether innocent or vi
cious, the ordinary voter who gives
no further attention to politics than
to become familiar with public ques-
tons and to vote when the time
comes, has no fair chance in the mys-
teries of the caucus and the conven-
ton. If there was no other reason
for primary electio.. law, it would
be needed to equalfze the capacities of
men for management, and to make
1t more difficult. at least. for the
man who promises to bring in Nown-
ship or county, to fulfill his promise.
Danger of Big Influences
There is. however, another view
which appeals to me still more strong
ly. Our country has changed might
lily In the last quarter of q century.
Business and commerce have passed,
in large measure, from the Individual
to the corporation. The corporation
of the Unites States. There is close
association and sympathy among the
great combinations of capital which
enable them to move as though di-
|rected by a single will. They are
vitality concerned II the laws which
are. from time to time, adopted,
and therefore one part of their gigan-
tic purpose is to control, to degree,
the Recommendations, state and
municipal. He who does not see and
feel this effect Is both blind and in
sensible. These corporations and
com binations have at their command
untold wealth. the strongest intel
infinite variety Of channels through
which to work; and they intend to
prevent any government from enact
ing or enforcing any law which they
think ought not to be enacted or en-
forced. They will do this thing if
they can, and the most casual stu
dent Of human nature must perceive
that the attempt springs from the
commonest characteristic of the hui
man race. There is jus one way In
which they can do it effectually, and
that is to determine who shall be
nominated and elected to office.
Methods of Corporations
Their arts cover the whole range
of influence. At one time they bride,
at another they browbeat. Now they
deceive and now they soduce. They
tain and show him the world that
may be his, and with another they
take from his shoulders a burden that
is too heavy for him to bear. They
run the whole gamut of human af-
| lection, and sound every note in the
chords of both virtue end vice. In
/ short, they are equipped to do what
ever the occasion requires. Their chief
officers are usually me, of standing
and morals, but their operations are
$50 vast that when they issue an or
der to accomplish certain result,
they do not feel responsible for the
manner it which it is sttained.
In this state tho railway companies
are the political corporations, and
while they have not introduced here
all the methods which have been OBJ
served elsewhere, it Is manifest that
they have intended to direct the course
Of the state, and that they still in
tend to direct il IL it be within their
power. The railways and their al
lied forces want to preserve the eau
Gus and the convention simply be-
cause they know that they will have
a better chance through this system
of dominating the affairs Of the state
4 than they would have through pri-
mary election system. They cannot
4 voters as they ca about delegates.
Their leaders cannot be so intimate
with the body of the people as they
are with, the managers Of caucuses
and conventions. A primary election
j law will minimize, If it will not de-
4 stroy, the power of railways in po-
\ litics; and If there were no other rea-
son for enacting such a statute, this
Il would be sufficient. look upon the
4 abolition of passes and the adoption
4 Of primary as parts of the same
i remedial legislation. They are both
i needed to secure the desired end, and
neither will be entirely effective with
out the other.
4 Not Cure-AH
4 I raust not be understood as even
HOPING that a primary election law
i politics. There will still be fraud
selhshness, deceit; but am sure thai
when the law is passed we will have
taken one step toward purer and bet
tier government. am quite aware
that there are some counties in the
state whose representatives will moi
feel the necessity Of change as fal
as their own counties are concerned
but trust that they will not measure
their responsibility by the condition OF
their own communities, but on the
other hand will view the proposed Law
from standpoint that will enable
them to see the welfare Of the entire
state.
Some Details
.. I cannot dwell upon the details o.
the law There may be and prob
ably are differences of opinion with
respect to the scope as we'll as the de.
tail of the legislation. There are GER
tain essential feature, however,
, which I venture to suggest.
First-The law should provide fol
the nomination by direct vote Of al
candidates for all offices filled by tn,
voters, and the office of senator ii
the congress Of the United States.
Second-It should provide primar.
election for all politic... parties. tt
be held at the same place and time
, Third--It should provide that thu
, person receiving the highest numbel
, Of votes for any particular Office
should be the nominee of the part!
} for such office.
Fourth-It should provide that G..
cry voter, If he votes at all, should
vote the ballot Of the party witt
(which he is affiliated.
), Remembering that am not advo
t eating any special bill. I am advocat
) ling only the spirit Of a measure which