Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-02-20
SPECIAL ORDER NEXT MONDAY
Several Changes are Reported to Have
Been Made in the Substitute Bill
For the crossIey Measure-BiII for
County Primaries to be Submitted to
the Legislature.
[By Ora williams]
Special to Times Republican.

of the state wide primary law, yet the
leaders claim that every effort possi-
bic is being put forward in the inter-
ests of the bill. The changes reported
in the substitute measure which come
up under special order next Monday
for the original bill, 1t is claimed have
not attracted the attention in the press
of the state that they deserved. These
changes, it is claimed, are really inn
portant and have been made with the
view to simplifying the measure SO as
to gain it friends. These changes are
embodied in sections five, six, seven
and eight of the substitute measure
reported in the senate journal Of Feb.
H. The original Crossley bill pro-
vided an elaborate machinery for reg
istration. The view was to make it
difficult for the voter to change his
party fealty on the.day Of the primary
or the few days before. The original
bill provided that the voter must make
a declaration of his party choice at
each general election and on the pri-
mary following would then be given
the ballot Of that party. Its provisions
for changing the party choice were
elaborate and made it difficult to
change. These points were objected
to by some Of the members of the leg
islature and resulted in the change.
Under the sections relating to reg
istration in the substitute bill, there
is no party declaration. On the day
of the first primary the voter goes to
the booth and calls for which ever
party ticket he wishes. This is con-
sidered his party preference and so re-
corded. He is then never asked to
make any party declaration but each
primary day is given the ballot Of the
party he voted at the first primary. L.,
however, he wishes to change his party
preference he can do SO at any time
during the twenty-three months fol-
lowing the primary by mailing a writ
ten notice to the county auditor who
records the change on the poll books
and when the voter goes to the next
primary he is handed a ticket of the
new party without a word being said.
This written notice can be given any
time up to thirty days before the
primary After the thirty days limit
a voter can change only by so declar-
ing on primary day to the judges and
he is then subject to challenge. If
challenged as not having in good faith
changed his party can still change
his party by taking a simple oath to
that effect.
1t has been recognized for some time
that the position Of the democrats in
the matter is an important one. One
Of the friends of the primary stated
today that he was confident the demo-
Gratis would be strongly influenced to
vote favorably on the primary bill if
the measure were so amended as to al
low the central committees to name
candidates in case no candidate volun-
tarily asked to have his name placed
on the ballot. The democratic party
being in minority in many places for
the good of the party it is claimed by
the democrats full ticket should be
in the field at each election. The party
being In the minority without con-
vention to stir up interest it is feared
there would be times when no candid
ate would ask for a position recog-
nizing probable defeat anyway. 1t is
argued in favor of the change that it
could not permit conspiracies to keep
all candidates out Of the field so as to
allow the central committee to name
the candidates as it takes but one per-
cent of the voters to a petition to
place a name on the primary ballot.
Such a change, it is claimed, would
add good many democratic votes in
favor of the measure, and it is not en-
tirely improbable but that such a pro-
vision may be offered when the bill is
up for consideration. Every effort pos
sible to make the bill meet the wishes
of the greatest number Of members of
the legislature without sacrificing any
of its strength is being made. Besides
these changes there are any number
Of senators who just now are under
fire from their home counties to sup
port the bill At least two Of these, it
is claimed have changed over to sup
port the bill. At least three others are
just on the verge of changing to po-
sition in favor Of the measure.
A Partial Primary.
1t has been recognized for some time
that there would likely be a bill re-
ported for county primaries, but pro-
viding for delegates and conventions
for the selection of all officers above
those OF the county. It is not believ-
ed, however that there is going to be
a stampedeing the legislature for such
a measure. Neither is the claim that
the Crossley measure will prevent poor
men from running for office causing
any CONSERVATION among the ranks of
the supporters Of the bill The alb
surdity Of this claim was pointed out
today by Senator Lewis, of Clarinda.
Suppose poor man were running for
governor" said Senator Lewis. In
stead of it costing him 100000 as Sec
rotary Shaw claims, it would cost him
twenty cents in stamps to write to ten
friends in ten counties"
A candidate for a state office must
get petition signed by two per cent
Of the voters of his party in ten coun-
ties Of the state. That would take 2S2
signers in Polk county, the largest
county of the state, for republican
candidate for governor and one man
could get them all. If he had one
friend in each Of the nine other coun-
ties he could easily get the proper
number of signers.
County Primary Bill.
Senator Saunders will likely intro
duce his county primary bill next Mon
day as substitute for the Crossley
primary election bill. The Crossley
bill comes up at that time on special