Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1907-03-28
STATE SENATOR COTTERILL ON
SECTION TWELVE.
The Provision Requiring Voters TO
Declare Their Political Party Bars
the Independent Voter and En-
COuraaeS the "rlOater." Yet the
Law Improves Present Conditions.

The direct primary law passed by the
legislature is in many ways an excellent
measure, but it has one weak spot in
providing that every voter participating
must declare with what political party
he intends to affiliate. The objections
to this provision were clearly and terse.
ly stated by Senator Cotteril when he
said:
''The provision Of this bill (Section 12)
which requires an open declaration of
party atiiliation as the price of participa-
tion in direct primary election is abso-
lutely un-American. 1t imposes test
which bars the door against the inde.
pendent voter, while leaving it wide
open 10 the 'foaters' and other voting
chattels marshaled to the polls by their
purchasers.
"This provision places it within the
power OF the special privileged corporation
or interest employing large numbers Of
men to coerce the voters or compel the
absence from the polls Of their employees
livelihood. The secret ballot is the
American freeman's weapon of advance
and bulwark of defense in the cause of
liberty. This provision requiring dis
closure of party affiliation violates that
fundamental American principle.
''There are increasing thousands of
workingmen who dare not directly reveal
their partisanship and will not risk their
livelihood and the support of wives and
children by betraying their choice OF
party which opposes the special privilege
which may be enjoyed by the employing
corporation. Such men are barred from
participation by the un-American pro.
vision which demands party label pub.
licly displayed.
"Under this provision the machine
will remain supreme on the party throne;
the boss will still occupy the saddle
the 'ward-heelers' will still herd their
brands of voting cattle and deliver
them to their purchasers-while inde-
pendent citizens will be barred from par
ticipation by their sense OF honor and
the presentation of partisan oath which
insults their citizenship. The utterance
OF President Roosevelt at Harrisburg ex-
presses my sentiments precisely.
"'If we had no independent voters we
should always be running the risk OF the
most degrading kind of despotism-the
despotism of the party boss and the par
ty machine
"By Section II of this bill, the state OF
Washington decides to disfranchise the
Independent voter at the direct primary
and take the risk OF the despotism of the
party boss and the party machine.
Against that decision l protest and
leave the responsibility to those who in.
sist upon placing party ties above inde-
pendent citizenship.
"Despite this vital defect, this bill is
an improvement over existing conditions.
1t destroys the caucus and convention
system. 1t establishes non-partisan
judiciary. 1t is substantial step for.
ward. 1t is apparently all that can be
accomplished by this legislature in the
direction of direct primary. have not
endangered the bill at this stage of the
session by Offering any amendment. |
hope that it may prove the stepping
stone to true direct primary on the
American plan. desire to be recorded
as voting aye"