Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-03-28
Standpatters and Democrats
Join Forces in the House to
Kill the Measure
THE CORPORATION INFLUENCE
No Chance Tha. Primary Measure Will
Pass Iowa Legislature as Long as
the Corporations Control the Assem-
bIy-some Interesting Incidents in
the Final Debate.
lBy Ora williams.l

! opSSAoi w
Des Moines, March 2S.-One more
turn in the case of primary elections
in Iowa. Allied standpatism and bour-
bon democracy again showed devotion
to the interests of the corporations. The
| house went on record as dead against
any primary law for Iowa. 1t was
demonstrated in the house as it had
been in the senate that so long as the
corporations have a say in state at
fairs there will be no primary legisla-
| ton.
The new primary bill went to defeat
even as did the old one in the senate
| and in much the same way. The effort
was made Of course, to twist it around
SO that hypocrites in politics could
make claim that after all it was the
progressives who really made impos-
sible primary law, but this will de-
ceive nobody.
The bill was discussed for several
hours and then the standpat substi-
tute was introduced 1t was for a law
which would require that nominations
be by majority vote or a convention,
which would destroy most of the pri-
mary systems in use in the state. The
author of the bill. Mr.. Hart, declar-
ed frankly that he is opposed to all
primary legislation. When Mr.. Cum-
mings asked him If he would vote for
his own bill should 1t be substituted
he did not give a direct answer. This
made it very plain to everyone that
the substitute primary was introduced
solely for the purpose of killing off all
legislation and not in good faith, and
that there was no intention on the
part of its sponsors that it should ever
be passed. The vote on the substitute
was 33 to 81.
On the main question, the vote was
45 to 81. There would have been three
or four more votes for the bill II all
were present. Several democrats dodg-
ed and waited until it was seen that
the standpatters had killed the bill and
then they voted for the bill to make
show of division, tho two of the six
voting for the bill are said to be actu.
ally III IdVOTs VI IuS
Tho Debate.
The debate on primary elections In
the house developed only that which
was generally known. namely: that I'm
placable standpatism is dead opposed
to all. progress, and that no matter
how liberal and non-factional pri-
mary bill might be it has been decreed
by some power higher than any eau
Gus or state official that there shall
be no primary elections law for Iowa.
Mr.. Flenniken made very plain and
unornamental exposition of the bill. He
pointed out wherein 1t differed from
the bin which drew upon itself the
standpat fire In the senate. 1t had
been devised to meet every objection
there raised. 1t was so moderate and
free from factionalism that it ought
to be accepted by all as fair start
in the direction of adopting the pri-
mary system. The opposition was led
off by Mr.. Greene, who introduced
primary bill the first day Of the ses-
sion and who has permitted it to rest
upon the house calendar for weeks
without making any attempt to call 1t
up. Greene was ostensibly for pri-
mary legislation, but he Is a stand
patter and responds when the wires
are jerked Somebody evidently did
some jerking; for behold, Greene was
found to be dead against the primary
bill, and as reason urged that it was
so late in the session that it would
be useless to waste time discussing
a primary bill when 1t was already de-
creed and decided finally and irrevoca-
bly, that the bill could not be permit
ted to pass the senate. Then he was
opposed to it, 50 he said, for the rea-
son it did not take in all officers and
because 1t did include too many. It
ought to include everything but United
States senator. In fact Greene voiced
the house standpat position that the
bill wouldn't do because it met all the
objections of the senate standpatters.
But the chief address in opposition
said that he can put up the best ar
gument in support of that which he
doesn't believe than any man in the
legislature, and Temple commenced
back with Hamilton and Jay to base
his argument. He did declare himself
as opposed to any primary system leg
allied, and he would vote against the
bill and all amendments and substi-
tutes. He eulogized the party
system and pointed out the
necessity for maintaining party
He urged delay
so that the voters might act, and be-
cause in about ten months a legisla-
ture will convene here which will
know what the people want and be bet
ter fit to pass on primary legislation.
This legislature should not undertake
these innovations. It has nothing to
act upon. In regard to the petitions
asking for primary legislation they
were of no account. Petitions mean
nothing. Those who are interested in
them are generally Jealous
and misguided persons who have
wheels in their heads and the wheels
keep buzzing. Mr.. Temple was also
fearful lest corporations might gain
some advantage by reason of primary
systems.
The Vote.
Mr. Hart offered county optional
primary system with conven-
ton features and urged it as substi-
tute He admitted in his argument.
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