Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-08-15
THE PRIMARY ELECTION
WHEN AND WHAT 1T Isl

An exchange which we make use OF
SAYS there seems TO be sort OF hazi-
ness regarding the primary election
which is to be held Tuesday, September
4.h. There are some who confuse 1t
with the conventions which have here
tofore been held, following the eau
cuses held in sill the election precincts,
they believing that the primary cleo
ton il a sort of combination OF caucus
and convention where they will meet
In one body to discuss the situation and
nominate candidates for the respective
offices.
The primary election is designed to
do away entirely with caucuses and
conventions, where it is possible by
careful manipulation and through the
leadership of some strong candidates to
get In men who are less popular and
les. fitted for the Office than some other
candidates. thus in part failing to re-
cord complete choice Of the electors
for each office The primary day is
fixed on the first Tuesday of September
of each election year.
Each voter will go to the pclls the
same as at the regular election in Nov
ember On entering the booth he will
be handed bunch Of ballots fastened
together, representing each Ct the po-
litical parties in existence, Oh wh!ch
will Dc printed the names Of all candi-
dates who have been nominated by the
nomination papers with which great
many are already familiar. For in
stance, in Vernon county there are the
democratic and republican parties.
There will De two separate ballots Has-
tened together which will be given to
each voter going into the booth. TAX
ing this bunch he will go into the booth
ont Of sight as in the regular election
and decide which party, whether re-
publican or democrat he, desires TO vote
for One Of the objects Of the primary
law is to bring about q full indepen-
dsnce and thorough expression as to the
choice Of party candidates. Each voter
must vote only the party OF his choice.
He cannot vote part democratic and
part republican. but must make the vote
wholly for one or the other. II he
wishes to drop party lines later he can
do so when it comes TO the election in
November.
Having picked out the men he wishes
ss the nominees for his party, which
ever one it may be, the voter folds the
ballot he has marked so the endorse
mepts appear on the outside, the same
as with the regular election ballots, At
ths same time folding in . separate
bunch the unmarked ballots. Then he
comes from the booth to the judges Of
election, the same "a in the regular
election. and hands the marked ballot
20 be deposited in the regular ballot
box. The unmarked ballots are also
handed to one of the judges who de-
posits them in box provided for blank
ballots. Tnus all the ballots are ac-
counted for and there liz no possible
stufing the ballot Neither Is there
the possibility Of republicans having
anything TO say about who shall be the
nominees Of the democratic party or
vice versa, which We believe all fair
and Just.
Ii will be seen that the time required
for the farmer who ls busy threshing
and doing his other work Ia no more
than is required at the general cleo
ton in November. although possibly
the September primary comes az q
buster season than the regular election
does That is matter that only time
and experience will adjust
We trust that every farmer will make
himself acquainted with the provisions
of this law and plan without fail to at
the primary to express his choice for
candidates of his party.
Some opponents of the primary law
claim that it tends to give advantage to
the cities, where the caucus system is
inclined to favor the farmers. We be-
lieve this claim Ia not justified; that the
farmers, II they are interested, will be
as free TO express themselves under the
primary system and can 40 so more
freely, with less time and with greater
secrecy as to party utilization, than they
can under the old system
The CENSOR urges every farmer, a.
well a. all others, to be sure to get
spotted on this law and to show the
politicians and all others that they are
competent to choose their candidates
and that they are intel eetsd enough to
do 20
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