Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1907-02-28

sensible and logical talks IN the pr
mary bill discussion In the senate
Thursday was by Senator Brewer OF
Abilene. A stenographer was at his
side and the complete report Of bis
address follows:
Mr.. Chairman: III said nothing yes
terdsy, on the two primary bills; !. Q.
the two bills before the Senate, name
ly, the Stubbs bill and the Fitzpatrick
bill, fors two reasons: one was, that !
desired to hear the discussions and
opinions of my brother senators on
the merits Of the two bills; the other
was tdat discovered common lay
man like myself never had single
chance to break into the discussion;
but this morning l wish to make a
few remarks on the merits Of the two
measures.
represent a district in which one
county, Clay, has been using the dele
gate system, in the other, my home
county, Dickinson. the primary and
delegate system has been in operation
for years. l have listened with con-
siderable interest to the advocates OIL
the Stubbs measure in regard to the
protection offered by that measure to
the individual voter to express his
preference for candidates and have
bis vote counted, but in oil the dis
cussions which have, in large meas
ure, been general, very few of the
senators in my Judgment, have
touched tAe vital points Of the two
bills. It.ia claimed for the Stubbs
bill that voter can vote for the can
didates under that measure and have
his choice for the various candidates
counted and recorded as he desires it
should be. Now, let Us see whether
tuis is the fact. / have gone over the
two measures very carefully and in
my judgment, the heart Of the two
bills is the method Of voting at the
primaries. 1t is a well known TACT,
that the Stubbs bill as it is checked
up to the senate by the house is not
the original Stubbs bill as introduced
oy that gentleman in the house. The
original bill was shot all to pieces in
the house and well nigh defeated, and
the oulv proposition upon which the
bin could be saved at all was the un-
holy alliance which Mr.. Stubbs and
his followers entered into with the
Democrats in that body which resulted
| in placing the Hendricks amendment
iS Section 10 Of the bill by The Demo-
Gratis. Both the Stubbs bill and The
Fitzpatrick bill provide that the Pri-
mar;es shall BE- held for all parties on
the same day, at the same hour, and
at the usual voting places in 'he sew
eral counties OF the state. The Fitz-
patrick bill provides that the voter
when presenting himself at the polls
shall declare his politics, Re given the
ballot OF his party, containing The
names Of all the candidates on bis
ticket and vote that ballot and nc
other. This is absolutely right and
will protect each party from the inter
ference Of the other party In the nom
ioation Of their respective candidates
II a man is Republican, he should
vote q Republican primary ballot, ant
on the other hand, II man Is Dem
ocrat or belongs to some other Politi
cal party he should vote the ballot o
that party.
The Stubbs bill in Section |, IS
previously stated, contains The amend
ment placed there by the Democrat
lin a combination with Mr.. Stubs ant
his followers. and provides tina
when voter presents himself at th
! polls be be given . separate ballot 10
each party having candidates in th
Geld; /. e. he Is given . Republics
ballot, Democratic ballot. 8 Social
ist ballot, q POPuliSt ballot or an
other that may be in the field. d
axes these ballots into the booth an
votes the one be desires and return
a the unused ballots which sre place
e In = separate ballot box aud destrOye
!. BY Che judges nt the close Of the pr
fl mariss. This provision. / claim vi
/. permit the Democratic party or men
! bsrs Of that party 70 assist in nAmin
' candidates on the Republican toks
!. No Republican ballot in the Be
4 would bs protected or sacred irOI
. he Inturisrsnos Of Democratic {
oshsf opposition votes. And .