Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1907-10-10

advocating a change In this provision
OF the constitution.
The fact is that no argument worthy
of the name has been or Will be ad-
vanced In support of the retention OF
the 40 per cent clause in the present
primary law of Michigan. Beneath
whatever may or can be said In sup
port Of this clause lies the desire OF
its advocates to preserve, IL possible,
the old delegate convention system
and thus keep from the people the
right to make these nominations them
selves. This phase OF the matter Is so
real that II needs simply be mentioned.
Even those who in public strenuously
advocate retention of the percentage
clause frankly admit in private the
truth OF this statement. 1t Is hardly to
be presumed that delegate conven-
ton will come any nearer expressing
the will OF the people than will the
people themselves by direct vote. The
percentage provision of the primary
law now on the statute books of this
state should be repealed.
l am firmly of the opinion, too, that
the members of the different political
parties should be afforded the oppOr-
tunity to elect by direct vote the dele
gates to the national conventions. Del
egates to conventions act in purely
representative capacity and should be
chosen by the most direct method. !
know of no reason why the county and
state conventions should come be-
tween the rank and file of the party
and the national convention. The first
and second choice of candidates for
delegates should be indicated on the
ballot. In any event it is altogether
probable that there would be candi-
dates for delegates whose presidential
choice would be well known and in
accord with we'll defined public senti-
ment.
This primary election could be ar
| ranged for with but little expense, as
the delegates could be elected on the
first Monday in April, an election day
throughout the state. A general law of
| this kind for electing these delegates
would prevent the holding of any
| caucuses and conventions long before
the call for the national convention
is issued and enable those who are eX-
pected to elect the nominees to have
more to do with their nomination.
In this connection, / desire to call
| your attention TO the necessity OF pro-
viding more stringent regulations gov
! erning the holding of county and dis
| trict conventions in localities where
the direct nomination system does not
prevail. No convention should be
called TO elect delegates to a national.
state or district convention that has
not been called The other course is
sometimes taken from good motives,
no doubt, but they are seldom made
public. Cleaner politics and good gov
eminent will be promoted by making
such practices against the letter as
well as the spirit of the law.
Experience has conclusively demon
strated that there should be but one
primary day and upon that day all
nominations under the provisions of
the law should be made. This change
would result in a large saving to the
people.
81 wou1d be pleased TO see needed
amendments made TO existing special
primary erection laws affecting speci
j fed localities In order that all laws
on this subject may be made as uni
form and harmonious as possible. The
extension of the primary election sys
tenn to meet any demands of the peo
pie would have my approval.
The desire of the people of Michi
gan to directly participate in the nom
ination of candidates for United States
senator is, believe, generally conced
ed. The method of gratifying this over
whelming wish of your constituents is
simple and thoroughly understood by
all of you. BY making provision in the
primary law so as to permit the people
of the state to nominate party candi
dates for United States senator by di
rect vote you will perform an act that
will have the unqualified approval OF
the people of the state, regardless OF
political affiliations.
The lobby evil is no less dire and
corrupting than it was when | directed
your attention to ii at the commence
ment of your regular session. At that
time l said:
In all matters of legislation the peo
pie are entitled to your best thought
and most conscientious judgment, and
you should see to 1t that your thought
is not directed nor your judgment af
fected by any undue influence. Public
hearings and the right of petition as
to all matters coming before the legis
l1ture are legitimate methods of in
huencing legislation. The legislature
should always be willing to grant pub
lie hearings to and receive petitions
from all who may be interested in
measures under consideration, wheth
er those persons represent public OF
private interests. Aside from the hear
ings there should be no place, either
in the legislative halls, the committee
rooms or the lobby for the profession
al lobbyist. His right should simply be
those enjoyed by the humblest citizen
Of the state. The professional lobbyist
has no proper place in legislation and
the sooner he is eliminated therefrom
the better, not only for the public but
for the special interests by which he
is employed.
The first step in this direction must
necessarily be taken by the individual
legislators in treating with contempt
the introducer of any so-called strike
legislation designed for the sole pur.
pose of attracting the attention OF
these special interests, thereby invit
ing them TO either pay tribute or to
employ the professional lobbyist in
self defense. Such legislation and its