Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-02-14

of his choice, but SO long as both
| primaries are held on the same day
and at the same hour, why could not,
or why should not, a voter be allowed
to go to his booth, have ballot given
him, on witch is printed the names of
| both parties, make the selection of his
party, mark the squares opposite the
names of his preference and deposit
| his ballot. He could vote but once,
and for one party only. Then why this
grea anxiety to place a mans politics
on record and make him and his
| friends swear to it?
| If the present bill should carry,
there is no doubt there would be more
swearing done at the next primary
than Iowa or the Almighty has seen
for many an election. Taking section
six and seven as a whole, it strikes me
as the nearest to a scientific cinch for
the. purpose of counting noses, previous
to election that has yet been devised
Again in section nine, which pro-
vdes for the placing of names of cam
didates on the primary ballot in coun-
~ offices. one must get per cent of
the voters upon petition to be based
upon the head of the ticket of his po-
y
is personally known to all the signers
and positively knows they are of the
same political faith as the candidate.
There are not many men who are so
intimately acquainted with their party
voters as to know per cent unless
they are professional politicians.
Now if a man did not know person.
ally per cent of the voters of his
county or had not the time to devote
to the canvas or did not live in city,
he would be practically barred from
having any aspirations for county Of
flee. But the ward heller. profess
sional politician or the man in Office
would have the deciding advantages.
Yet the intent of the section is good.
No one would doubt the advisablity
of barring out or eliminating the cam
didate who is not sincere, but is mere
ly running to help out friend. But
it seems to me it would be better and
more convenient to require the cam
didate to place in the auditors hands
a certain sum of money, say 500, or
any amount that mibht be deemed ad-
visable by the trainers of the measure
and if at the election, he received not
less than per cent of the votes of his
party he would be given back the mon
ey. If he did not get the required 4
per cent then the money would be for |
feited to the school fund. This would, |
it seems to me. cause man to hesi- |
tate before placing himself before the
people unless he was sincere in his |
candidacy. and l am sure this would be |
preferable to the farmer who other
wise, would be constantly annoyed by |
a string of office-seekers. each armed |
with a petition to be signed.
I believe it to be but justice that |
the people be heard on these matters
and submit the above suggestions to
your readers to bring out what dis
cussion it may on this most important |
piece of legislation.
D. E. KULP
West Bend, Feb. IA. 1906.
[Dr. Kulp has pointed out some very
fair criticisms of the Crossley bill. The
reason these details have not been dis
cussed is that primary bill has not |
yet come from a committee and SEN
ator Crossley is now at work re- writing
his bill to suit his committee members
revising some of the very sections
mentioned by DR.. Kulp.-Ed.l