The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1907-01-05

or state regulation and examination
OF private banks be provided by this
legislature Some have suggested the
Wisconsin law. which does not permit
the organization OF any private banks.
requiring all banks 10 come under the
state law. II does allow banks with
small capital 10 organize and do busl-
ness in towns with a small popula.
tiOn.
Direct Nominations.
The subject OF direct nomination OF
candidates for public office demands
your consideration. Previous 10 the
meeting OF the last legislature there
were those who favored departing at
once from the convention system and
making every nomination by direct
vote OF the electors. Others, equally
honest and sincere, believed the rem
eddy for existing evils could be found
in legislation which would more
strongly safeguard the caucuses and
conventions. That II was the duty OF
the legislature 10 act I'm the premises
was almost universally conceded, and
In my first message l recommended
this subject 10 the careful attention OF
your predecessors.
Act No. ISL, OF the public acts OF
1905, known as the primary election
law. was passed and received my APP
prevail. Experience under II has dem
onstrated that ia some particulars
amendment is necessary, but that the
law IL satisfactory in the main Is dem
onstrated by the fact that In the cam
paIgn just closed II was not an issue.
The silence OF both press and public
speakers on this subject was in strik-
ing contrast with the conditions of two
years before The criticisms which at
the outset this law encountered pro-
ceeded both from those who sincerely
believed It's principle TO be unwise, and
from those who were moved not so
much by desire for primary reform
as for party Reorganization. This
was q new law along new lines. Its
provisions, Of necessity, were expert
mental. just MS in the case Of the Aus
tralian ballot law. the banking law
and many others which, by correction
and amendment from time 10 time,
have come 10 operate smoothly and TO
the satisfaction Of tho whole people.
Under the provisions OF this new
law, candidates for county Offices were
nominated last FAN by ono political
party in 40 counties and by another
political party ia Q counties Seventy
nine of the 100 members OF tho legisla-
ture were nominated by direct vote.
Ia nine congressional districts candi-
dates were named IN the new way.
Thus the operation Of the law has been
widespread. In the consideration OF
proposed amendments you have the
benefit OF experience which your
predecessors did not have and so viii
be able to make such improvement as
experience dictates Is wise.
Defects Ia Primary Law.
Chief among the defects IN the prl-
mary election law which Its operation
has pointed ont Is that both TO the
candidate and the public 1t Is too ex-
pensive That which made imperative
the enactment OF a primary election
law two years ago was the sincere
desire Of our people for some change
that would prevent the corrupt use OF
money In politics and. as far as pos
slblc, make unnecessary the use or
money at ALL While the new law
properly and quite successfully
stopped the corrupt use OF money, Il
has not operated as It's trainers thought
II would operate, 10 cut down the ex-
pense OF campaign for nomination,
but has rather aggravated that evil
me poor man ought not thus 20 be
placed az a disadvantage In contest
Win man OF means T'hs provision
OF the law requiring signatures TO nom
nation blanks ought to DO radically
amended making the minimum and
maximum number OF signatures re
qulred very small and very near 20.
gether
Az the outset II was deemed wise TO
provide ono primary for tho snbmis-
sion OF ths question OF direct nomlna-
tons and the nomination OF governor
ssd lieutenant governor, and one for
the nomination OF other candidates.
This. too. operated 10 increase public
and private expense. There should be
but one primary day and upon that
day an nominations, under the pro
visions Of this law should be made
Provision could be made FOR the sub
mission Of The question OF direct nom.
nations whenever pcutioncd for NJ the
April election. thus making use Of the
election machinery already IN use and
with but slight additional expense.
Party Enrolment.
The provision OF the law requiring
party enrolment, in It's operation. has
justified the recommendation which
made III 1906 70 vote under false pre-
lenses a. party primary n con
temptibls and fraudulent Republican
nominations should be made by Repub-
leans. Democratic nominations should
be made by Democrats. The truth on
these statements IL seif.evldent. Party
enrolment prevents false prctcnse and
IN no way intcrferes with the right Of
fhN Vntcr AZ fNa wrurV4f ologttan Sine.