Washington State journal and Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1906-1907, 1907-01-30
DIRECT PRIMARY LEGISLATION.

lature, who introduced and championed
in 1901 and again in 1903 bills providing
for direct nomination, and chairman of
State Conventions of Direct Primary
Leagues, states:
1T is remarkable indication of the
deep interest of the people of the State
generally in the question, that never
before on behalf of any movement in
this state have 80 many leagues, clubs,
societies, unions, declarations, conven-
tons, state and county, and SO many
varied associations and gatherings of
the people demanded with such unan-
unity, and proposed legislation as dur
ing the past year the people of WASH
ington have in behalf Of direct
nominations. And it can also be noted
how one-sided has been all the dis
cussions and expressions of opinion on
the subject, and how by petitions,
resolutions, interviews. speeches, plat
forms and parties, and pledges of can
didates and legislation, all favoring
and promising this legislation forming
an unbroken line of endorsements.
"Surely with such promises, prospects
and pledges good direct primary law
is assured. Even the agitation for such
a measure has resulted on the whole in
a stronger, more reliable and efficient
Legislation being chosen, and it is con-
fidently expected that it will honestly
and without intrigue of evasion prompt
ly carry out the expressed will OF the
people. Occasionally during recent
months there have been rumors, not well
defined, not easily traced, that secret
move was on foot to either openly de-
feat or to so daily with and amend the
bill that it would serve to permit the
continuance of political manipulation,
or else so frame it that its awkward
provisions and attempted mixture of
the old method with the new direct
plan would cause it's first application to
prove failure, and repeal and return
to old conditions be secured in two
years. Even the State Direct Primary
League has in one or two instances
been slightingly referred to, and
strained effort made to throw some
doubt on the sincerity of the work.
view it that the League was the natur-
al coming together for united effort
for the proposed legislation, and its
state convention was certainly repre-
sentatives of all parties and classes,
and to surprising extent of localities.
Several of the members of the present
legislature were in attendance, and the
whole work of the league has been an
honest, unselfish effort to gather and
crystalize the sentiment of the state to
unitedly support the best bill. The
bill proposed in no particular represents
the pet plan of any coterie, but the
consensus of opinion gathered from a
fair referendum vote of the great
majority of the leading supporters of
such measures. Personally there are
several minor features that am very
Indifferent concerning, and some phases
were among those well informed on
primary legislation there can be honest
differences. But on the whole, and
especially the essential provisions, the
overwhelming expression of opinion by
the vote submitted to the committee
makes these provisions of the bill
practically pronounced verdict from
the people themselves, and that verdict
ought to prevail.
''Of the scope of the bill there GER
tainly can be no question but that the
public asks for it's broader application
to include all state, congressional,
legislative, county and municipal Offices,
and choice for party candidates for
U. S. Senator.
Probably the greatest honest differ
ence arises over the question of open
or closed primaries. Whether the
primary shall be open for all voters to
participate, each voter taking all the
ballots, secretly selecting the party
ballot on which he shall indicate his
choice for nominees, and voting it but
concealing his party affiliations, as pro-
vided in the proposed bill; or that the
voter shall make known his party, be
subject to challenge, take the one
ballot Of that party alone, and indicate
his choice for nominees, etc. Exper-
fence and argument can be given for
both methods, and some criticism offer
ed to either under certain conditions,
but the choice of open or closed plans,
while important, is not vital to success
of direct primaries.
Were it not for changing the voters
and candidates from the routine of pro-
cedure and careless, hsphaxard work,
usually outlined and directed by bosses
or machine workers, and preventing all
attempts to perpetrate such practices, -
the directions necessary for q system Of
direct nominations would be very sim
pie.
1.-THE item of expenses sometimes