The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-12
STAND BY Guns.
Senator La Toilette on the
Primary Law.
Position Taken by Kansas Demo-
Gratis Is Right.
FOR A SECRET BALLOT.
Anything That Destroys This
Vitiates the Law.
cup to the House," Says Mr..
Stubs.
FOR A SECRET BALLOT.

at is in the hands of the house, and
the members can do whatever they
please"
This is the statement of w. r.
Stubs concerning the primary cleo
| ton proposition which is a special or
der in the house this afternoon.
Indications are, however. that the
square deal" crowd, which is sup
posed to be backing the Stubs bill, is
inclined to make a compromise with
the Democratic members on the basis
of the so called Thompson amend
ment."
This attitude is due in considerable
measure to telegram received this
morning by w. r. Stubs from Robert
M. LaFollette in which Mr.. LaFollette
declares himself emphatically in favor
of the position taken by the Demo-
cratic members of the house on the
Thompson amendment, which amend
ment provides for the secret ballot as
used in Wisconsin. Mr.. LaFollette
Washington, Feb. ~, 1907.
Hon. w R. Stubs:
Declaration of party afiliation de-
stroys secrecy of ballots and enables
railroad and other corporations to
control votes of employees. Secrecy of
ballot is just as important at primary
as at general election. While minority
party may take advantage and inter
fere with nominations of opposite
party, and probably will do so for an
election or two, such action cannot be
persisted in without ultimately de-
stroying the party organization of any
party which practices it. The preser-
walton of the secrecy of the ballot is
worth vastly more than the harm
which will be temporarily suffered
while parties are getting experience
that will in the end teach them to keep
their hands off the nominations of op-
nnCf&
in Republican nominations in Wiscon-
sin but paid dearly for so doing as
thousands who had crossed party lines
to nominate Republicans became in
terested in the Republicans they had
helped to nominate and voted for
them in the general election, electing
the Republican ticket by largest vote
ever cast in an off year, 1 do not think
the Democratic organization will again
attempt to interfere in Republican
nominations in Wisconsin,
ROBERT NJ. LA FOLLETTE"
ne advice OF La Toilette will go a
long ways in marking out the course,
Tor the square dealers to follow. They
because they believed that it would be
better to have every voter call for his
own party ticket when he came UP to
vote. thereby publicly declaring his
politics.
However. La Folette's telegram will
doubtless cause quite a change in sem
timent
1t is evident that the Democratic
members propose to stand firm for the
Thompson amendment, and to vote
against the primary bill unless they
can get that amendment. Taylor Rid
die of Marion is in town today looking
after the Democratic alignment on the
bill and said:
The Democrats are ready to vote
for the Stubs primary bill provided it
carries the Thompson amendment
This amendment, however, will be in
sited upon. Unless we can get that
amendment. the Democrats will vote
against the bill. OF course there are
t. % or three Democratic members who
are not sincere Democrats but who are
merely masquerading as Democrats
and who are really controlled by the
machine. These men may not stay
with the rest of the Democrats, but
practically the whole Democratic side
of the house will stand together on the
Thompson amendment
When w. r. Stubs was asked
whether or not he would oppose the
Thompson amendment said: THAT is
a matter for the house to decide