The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-29

f. 80. . Is -
This also compels candidates to dis
ouss real issues to secure the attention
of the VOTERS gas e ~. - -
While the results of the judicial cleo
ton have been no worse than under
the convention system, it is certainly
an ignoble spectacle to observe district
Judges making d house toulouse can
vass and setting up the cigars for the
boys. So,
This could be avoided by hay
ing separate judicial elections and to
have delegates selected under the con-
vention system This would give the
bar some weight in the election of
judges, which is almost absent under
the present system. r. =
Philosophical Objections to the Law.
i There are other objections advanced
against the primary system which are
largely philosophical and due largely
toss the temperament of the objector.
Many men Of high character and espe-
cially those in professional life; are
devotealy democratic in theory, but
personally they dislike the contact If
the people.
While they hope for the best
under democratic government, they
really think that the. people should be
carefully led and that they should do
the leading. -.
These dislike the fierce personal can,
vases necessary under the primary
| system. They are no mixers. They do
not know how to give the "glad
| hand. - They want to lead the workers
on to better things, but Rt a safe per.
| sonal distance from the worker.
| This is quite impossible under the
primary system, which places retiring
and genteel people at a great disad
vantage.
4 Candidates must now talk and ex
plain their policies. They must attend
numberless smoke socials, address tho
| boys at the mills and in the railroai
yards and give the welcome hand tt
any voter who wishes to grasp the
same. The degree to which the people
! demand the absolute personal presence
| Of the candidate may be noted from
the fact that the present mayor o.
Minneapolis attended 100 meetings il
four weeks and had already ATTENDED
/ almost as many IN the primary cleo
| ton which preceded.
| While this is a distinct departure
. from the dignifed and elegant typ
of the old campaign, it is certainly (;
great advance on the packed conven
tion where the majority of the voters
hardly knew the name Of the candidate
and most of them had never seen him
| If a man expects to represent tn,
people. he must meet the people whom
he represents.
4 If he expects their vote, they have
| right to know his position upon the top
les of public interest.
4 1t is only thus that the mass of tn
/ people who are working for their dali
/ bread may become informed so tina
they may cast an intelligent ballot.
This is undoubtedly sdistasteful
many high-class and patriotic mer
Rather than engage in these close per
sonal campaigns, they are liable to re
tire from politics. IF an English Tor
can make honse-to-house canvas
without demeaning himself, it woul
seem that an American democrat Nigh
do likewise without losing caste.
1t is the opinion of the speaker tina
the majority of the voters are ger
orally right when they are properl
informed on the object of the day.
The voice of the people may not
the voice Of God, but it is a great dea
voice of the partizan who is huntin
office to secure the spoils.
Education Of the Voter.
If it is fact that the average vote
is ignorant and not fit to vote, thi
carries with it the conclusion that
is the duty Of those of larger parts t
instruct him how to vote.
One observes the United States SCI
ate today filed with the so-called rel
resentatives of the people, fghtin
tooth and nail against everything tina
the people really want.
TO such perilous point has the COZ
: tinuous delegation of the authority 9
ii the people carried the downward GU
rent Of the national life. Nothing tia