The independent., 1907-01-31

mated during convention DeIOre the
platform was adopted with the general
understanding that they were to get
on the platform that would be adopted
Mr.. McMullen asked if the platform
was not important Mr.. Rosewater
said it was but that the inception of
the platform came from a few men
under the convention system. He
thought the state committee would
serve their constituents when elected
under the primary law and would put
up a platform that the people wanted
The platform question: Mr.. Rosewater
believed, was not the vital part of the
primary discussion.
Mr.. McMulIen's PLATFORM.
Mr. McMullen was inclined to insist
that the making Of the platform was
very important duty and Mr.. Rose
water finally asked him If he made
Il J campaign for nomination on a plat
form. Mr.. McMullen said it was gen
orally understood what he stood for.
The platform was made later.
Perhaps said Mr.. Rosewater, IF
you had been running on platform,
you would not now be here opposing
the statewide primary, that is if your
constituents had spoken before you
were nominated
II. M. Waring of Omaha who helped
draft the Dodge bill, said the difficult
ty with the convention was that expe-
diency, not efficiency, controlled. The
Dodge primary bill, Mr. Waring said
combined the best features of the Min
nesota, Wisconsin and Illinois laws
He stood for the rotation of names on
the ballot. He cited instances where
incompetent persons were nominated
because their names were first on the
ballot in Omaha where there are many
ignorant voters.
"Mr. Waring is there anything in the
bill to proL bit political clubs from en-
dorsing any candidate or set of candi-
dates?" asked Representative Mike
Lee.
mo, sir"
And collecting a fee for 2" asked
Mr. Lee
Mr.. Waring explained the penalty
provisions to which Mr.. Rosewater re-
ferred.
Mr.. McMullen asked about the liza
bility of persons in certain sections to
win over candidates in sparsely settled
districts.
Mr.. Dodge answered for Mr.. Waring
by asking what chance a candidate
from Omaha had under the old system
as against the rest of the state.
Berge for. Statewide Bill.
G. w. Berge said the primary law
has been an instrumentality to place
the people in touch with the govern
ment The demand for the law rises
because public officialdom has not been
true to the people. He was anxious for
law to include all officers. He point
ed out objections to the convention
system, but said the proposed law
might not be perfect. He thought the
matter Of expense was not vital. 1t
might not cost $500 to run for a state
office. Mr. Berge favored complete Sc
crecy of ballot, giving the voter at
the primary the right to choose his
party ballot.
Mr.. Berge said the defeat of La
Toilette in Wisconsin was rather to the
credit Of the law for Mr.. LaFollette
had acted the boss to a certain degree
and the people resented it,
T. c. Munger favored the direct pri-
mary system. He said it was here to
stay. The system Of letting the candi-
dates fix the platform he believed to
be good 1t followed the English idea
which made the party directly respon-
sible to the electors.
III. Il. Dobbins spoke of the satisfac
ton the system has brought in Lin
coin. He thought the benefits largely
outweighed the defects He favored
the system of letting candidates name
the platform.
Mr. Dobbins was asked what caused
the election OF democratic mayor in
a strong republican community IL the
primary election law in Lincoln result
ed I'm securing the best men as candi-
dates. Mr.. Dobbins explained that
complication of liquor questions caused
the defeat of the republican candidate.
"Beer and More Bcer."
This brought out the condition In
Omaha where a democrat won. Mr.
Clarke said the issue In Omaha was
"boer or more beer" He took II that
the will OF the people was accom- |
plished there That was what the di- |
rect primary did. IL let the people have |
their say and IL was a plan that |
worked both ways occasionally but N !
Il accomplished the will OF the people, 4
be said II was a good thing.
j. NJ. Dcvlne spoke Of the selection /
~ Ron fpillman "A United States srua# Il