Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-05-01
GOVERNOR WARNER ON THE PRIMARY LAW
Sends Special Message 10 The Legislature the Subject
Would Broaden the System-Urses Law That Will Give
Every Man An Equal Show

Lansing, Mich. April 30.-Prelim-
mary to the consideration by the house
Of the Dickinson bill to amend the pri-
mary election law. Governor Warner
sent the Legislature "A special message
on this subject. He advocated the
elimination from the present law of
the provision that the successful can
didate for governor or lieutenant gov
ernor must poll 40 per cent. of the
total vote cast. urging that the people
desired that there be no provision that
Will. under any circumstances. prevent
the nomination of candidates for these
two offices 10y direct vote and throw
the contest into Il delegate convention
The nomination nj the primaries Of
candidates for United States senator
was also earnestly advocated, rs was
an amendment that will provide that
all nominations be made OH the same
day and thus avoid the great expense
incident TO several primary elections
in n single year. The governor made
an appeal for the broadening of the
system so rs TO give the poor man an
equal show with his rich opponent for
the nomination.
Statement Of Expenditures.
To this end he urged law designed
TO prevent the use of money mt the
polls and requiring the filing of an
itemized statement of expenditures by
all persons, whether candidates or not.
who make any expenditure in connec-
ton with contests for nomination for
United States senator. congressman.
governor. lieutenant governor and
other high Offices Governor Warmers
ideas OF what this provision should
be are embodied i'm the Allen-F'yfe bill
described by me last week.
The house took mp the consideration
OF the general primary bill last Thurs
day afternoon and threshed the mat
ter over for several hours. Although
the consideration OF the bill was not
concluded when the hour for adjourn
ment arrived. the discussion had pro-
ceeded far enough and had exposed
the attitude of the representatives suf
liciently to warrant the prediction that
the bill will be amended and agreed
TO along the lines recommended by the
governor. In fact the house in COM
mittee OF the whole promptly and
rather enthusiastically adopted the
amendment to include United States
senators in the list OF candidates 10 be
nominated by direct vote. This amend
ment was disposed OF In short order.
but the solons devoted much more time
To the consideration OF the amendment
offered by Representative Dick nson.
author OF the bill. as well as Of the ex
listing law. striking out the provision
requiring the successful candidate Ia
poll 40 per cent. of the total vote cast.
Discussion Was Thorough.
This proposition was discussed up
one side and down the other. the SEES
sion continuing until long after q
O'clock. very unusual proceeding.
On the one hand II was argued that
the percentage clause should not be
stricken ont for the reason that the
nominee for United States senator.
governor or lieutenant governor should
be the choice OF at least large pro-
portion OF the parry in the state. ane
the only way that this could be i'm
sured is TO require such candidate to
poll liberal portion of the vote east.
On the other hand II was urged that
the real object OF the primary law was
to place these nominations i'm the hands
Of the people and remove them from
delegate conventions. and If any per-
centage clause were retained in the
law this object could readily hc de-
featcd and doubtless would be defeat
ed by the placing in nomination of cam
didates representing different sections
Of the state. so that no candidate could
possibly poll the requisite percentage
OF the total vote. thus throwing the
contest into convention. y test vote
0n this amendment showed 81 mem
hcrS IN favor " IL and 3G against. The
consideration Of the bill will he com.
plc;ei this afternoon but the vote
mentioned IS generally accepted ~
an Indication that the bin will be
amended ms advocated by the gov
crnor in his special message and a.
thus amended will pass the house by
good majority.
The fate Of the measure I'm the sen
ate Is very uncertain. There is n
strong opposition in this body to the
new provisions.
Revision of Military Laws.
The differences over the bill re-
vising the military laws OF the state
have been adjusted and the measure
has been favorably reported by the
ways and means committee OF the
house. The principal dispute was over
che provision for erecting armories
As finally adjusted the provision con.
templates an appropriation OF $40
900 for each OF the ensuing two years
not more than $4,000 to be used for
any one company. The state military
board Il given complete control 40 to