The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1907-10-25


vance such claim, and the refusal OF
these same sixteen senator's to grant the
people the privilege of expressing their
wish in this regard at next years cleo
ton is positive proof of their belief that
the people demand such right and
would so declare by an overwhelming
vote if given an opportunity to do 80.
1t goes without saying that If senators
who have so strenuously and persist
emily opposed these features OF the pro-
posed law had the slightest reason to
believe that their position would be
sustained by the people they would not
for moment hesitate to submit the
question to vote.
The retention in the law of the per-
centage feature Is simply a last frantic
attempt to keep the nomination of can
didates for governor and lieutenant
governor in this state in convention
and as far from the people as possible
and as long as possible. Whose in
terests will best be subserved by this
action may safely be left to the people
to judge. They can be depended upon
to record that judgment in no uncer-
tain manner at their earliest oppor-
tunity. l may add that those whoSfavor
the elimination of the percentage pro-
vision are entirely willing to abide by
the verdict of the people Of Michigan.
SOME MUST GO BACK.
Tie primary bill introduced by Sena-
tor Reyes, of Eaton county, and sup
ported by his fifteen associates whose
opposition prevented the passage of a
better measure by the senate contains
a provision that will force some coun-
ties in the state to go back to the old
discredited and corrupt system of snap
caucuses.
mistake the temper of the people of
Michigan if they do not regard with
distrust and resentment those who
forced the inclusion of distinctly re-
Progressive provision in the new pri-
mary law. The law of 1905 provided
that all delegates to county conventions
called for the purpose of electing dele
gates to state conventions should be
chosen in each and every county in the
state at the June primaries regardless
of the acceptance or rejection by any
county of the primary system of naming
candidates for county offices. The law
just enacted provides that delegates to
such county conventions shall be chosen
at primaries in such counties only as
have adopted the primary system of
nominating candidates for county Of
fees. This is clearly step backward,
forced, as | have already stated by the
attitude of those Legislators who have
exercised all their ingenuity to deprive
the people of the state of the privilege
of choosing their own representatives
and to give back to the easily controlled
and corrupted snap caucuses, the power
that had once been wrested from them.
l confidently assert that the people OF
Michigan can be depended upon to re-
sent in most emphatic manner this
studied and deliberate invasion of their
rights.
PEOPLE MUST BE ALERT.
The people should be alert and pre-.
vent the contamination of this bastard
ly scheme by circulating in all counties
that are apt to be affected by this
change in the law petitions for the sub.
mission at the election in April next
the question of nominating candidates
for county Offices by direct vote. The
adoption of this plan will effectually dc
away with any opportunity for snap
caucuses.
desire 1t to be understood that
shall continue in next years primaries
the campaign for the elimination OF
these Objectionable provisions of the
new law. Ny confidence in my esti.
mate Of the purpose and wishes of the
people Of Michigan is such that I have
no hesitancy in predicting that the next
senate Of this state will not contain
enough members opposed to giving the
people the right to nominate their own
candidates for these offices to insure
the retention of these obnoxious pro-
visions in the statute.
4 Conclusive proof Of tho deliberate
purpose Of the sixteen senator's who
stood in the way Of the enactment of a
better primary law to continue and
foster the corrupt and discredited eau.
Gus and convention system wherever
possible Is found in their refusal to
correct an error in recently enacted
law which had for its purpose the ap.
plication of the provisions of the Kent
county primary law to the city OF
Grand Rapids. Refusal to pass this
corrective measure needs only to be
mentioned in order to prove the studied
purpose of the senators referred to to
curtail the rights and privileges of the
people in every possible way. This was
a local bill which passed the house
without dissenting vote. It had the
unanimous support of all the repre-
sentatives Of fairness and good sense, to