Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-10-09

OF the name mas Ottu VI viii 10 NJ
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
It's advocates to preserve. II 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 IL so
real that IL 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. Ii Is hardly to
be presumed that delegate conven
ion 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state should be repealed.
| am firmly OF the opinion. too. that
tie 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 fol
delegates should be indicated on the
| ballot In any evert 1t Is altogether
probable that there would be candi.
dates for delegates whose presidential
choice would be well known and In
accord with well 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 cal
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 CT district cSAvention that has
not been called. The other course 4:
sometimes taken from good motives
no doubt. but they are seldom made
public. Cleaner politics and good gov
| ar mil 10. h., III n
such practices against the letter a:
well as the spirit of the law.
| Experience has conclusively demon
strated that there should be but one
primary day and upon that day al
nominations under the provisions o
the law should be made This chang,
would result In a large saving to tn,
people.
i / would be pleased to see needed
amendments made to existing specia
primary election laws affecting speci
fed localities In order that all law
on this subject may be made as uni
form and harmonious as possible. Tn,
extension OF the primary election sys
tenn to meet any demands OF the pee
pie would have my approval.
: The desire OF the people OF Mich
, gan to directly participate In the nom
! ination of candidates for United State
!, senator is. believe, generally conced
: ed. The method OF gratifying this over
: whelming wish OF your constituents |
: simple and thoroughly understood b.
all of you. BY making provision in tn
: primary law so as to permit the peopl
OF the state to nominate party candi
: dates for United States senator by di
rect vote you will perform an act tina
: will have the unqualified approval o
, the people OF the state, regardless o
political Affiliations.
= The lobby evil is no less dire an
corrupting than II was when directe
your attention to 1t at the commence
: ment of your regular session. At tina
, time I said:
= In all matters Of legislation the pee
J Pile are entitled to your best though
and most conscientious judgment, an
: you should see to 1t that your though
is not directed nor your judgment al
; fected by any undue influence. Publ
hearings and the right OF petition a
/ to all matters cOming before the legi:
] lature are legitimate methods of ir
5 fluencing legislation. The legislator
; should always be willing to grant pull
2 lie hearings to and receive petition
: from all who may be interested 4
I measures under consideration, whetf
;. er those persons represent public o
: private interests. Aside from the heal
+ ings there should be no place, eithe
! in the legislative halls, the committe
, rooms or the lobby for the profession
al lobbyist His right should simply
r those enjoyed by the humblest citize
{ of the state. The professional lobbyis
has no proper place in legislation an
I the sooner he is eliminated therefor
8 the better, not only for the public, bu
e for the special interests by which h
{ is employed.
: The first step In this direction mus
!, necessarily be taken by the individus
e Legislators In treating with contemI
I the introducer of any so-called strike
l. legislation designed for the sole pu
I pose OF attracting the attention {
l. these special interests, thereby invi
l. ing them to either pay tribute or
J. employ the professional lobbyist
S self defense. Such legislation and II
e sponsors should be publicly denoun ce
4 and their real purpose exposed. A
n proposed legislation should stand {
r fall on It's merits alone and any arg
g ments as to those merits should stan
n the test of full publicity.
To Employ Private Detectives.