The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1907-05-03
Gov. WARNER On
THE PRIMARY LAW
Sends a Special Message to
the Legislature on
the Subject.
WOULD BROADEN THE SYSTEM
Urges a Law That Will Give the
= Poor Man Equal Show with
the Rich.
Draft of Bill Creating Railroad Com
mission Is Compieted-Revisio
ofthe Military Laws Of the
Stakeholder Matters.

Lansing, Mich, April 3o.-Prelim-
mary to tie consideration by the mousse
uf the Dickinson bill to amend the prl-
mary election law, Governor warner
s mt the legislature a special message |
"a this subject. He advocated the
elimination from the present law or
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 tnat
will. under any circumstances, prevent
the nomination of candidates FOR these
two offices by direct vote and throw
the contest into a delegate convention.
The nomination at the primaries OF
candidates for United States senator
was also earnestly advocated, as was
an amendment that will provide that
all nominations be made on the same
day and thus avoid the great expense
incident to several primary elections
in q single year. The governor made
an appeal for the broadening of the
system so as 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 at 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 in the Allen-Fyfe bill
described by me last week,
The house took up 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 sur
ficiently 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 to 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 Dickinson
author of the bill, as well as of the ex
listing law. striking out the provision
recurring the successful candidate t.
poll 40 per cent of the total vote cast
Discussion Was Thorough.
This proposition was discussed NJ
one side and down the other, the ses
sion continuing until long after
o'clock. very unusual proceeding
On the one hand it was argued tina
the percentage clause should not b.
stricken out for the reason that tn
nominee for United States senator
governor or lieutenant governor shoul'
be- the choice OF at least a large pre-
portion of the party in the. state, an
the only way that this could be In
sured is to require such candidate t
poll "a liberal portion. Of the vote cas-
On the other hand II was urged tina
the real object of the primary law wa
to place these nominttjo ions in the hand
OF the people and remove them froI
delegate conventions, and If any pc!
centage clause were retained in til
law this object could readily he d.
feated and doubtless would be defea
ed by the placing in nomination of cal
didates representing different section
, of the state. so that no candidate eoul
!. possibly poll the requisite percentaa
OF the total vote. thus throwing I'll
contest into a convention. A test vot
on this amendment showed "A men
bers in favor Of ii and SO against, III
consideration of the bill will he cor
pleted this afternoon. but the vo
mentioned is generally accepted
an indication that the bill will
amended as advocated by the go
ernor in his special message and
thus amended will pass the house by
good majority.
The fate OF the measure In the Sc
ate is very uncertain. There Is
strong opposition in this body to Il
new provisions.
Revision OF Military Laws.
The differences over the bill r
vising the military laws of the sta
have been adjusted and the measu
has been favorably reported by 4
ways and means committee of Z
house. The principal dispute was ov
the provision for erecting armoric
As finally adjusted the provision CO
templates an appropriation Of 81
600 for each Of the ensuing two yea
not more than $4,000 to be used I
any one company. The state militia
board Is given complete control 40