Potosi journal. (Potosi, Mo.) 1894-1929, 1907-09-04
New Duty for Missourians.

NEW DutY Tor M1SSoufaADS-
The voters of this state, under
the new primary law, will them
selves make the state, congression-
| al and county nominations next
year at the general primary Oh
August 4. More than this, no
candidate can get on a state or con-
gressional aicket without filing a
petion signed by a certain percent
age Of the voters of his party. In
order to enter the primary an as
pirant for state Office must file,
not later than June 5, petition
signed by at least one per cent of
the voters Of his party in 1904,
distributed in at least six counties.
This'provision requires 3214 sign
ers for Republican and 1868 for
a Democrat. 1t would be impos-
sible to devise more direct refer
endum. The referendum usually
referred to is popular right to
review and modify legislation. But
in the Missouri primary of 1908
the voters must open the way to
enter the primary as we'll as select
the candidate by general ballot.
The people personally guard the
gates as we'll as determine the state
ticket, delegating their authority
to none. No boss can interpose
without dealing directly with the
voter.
There will be no state tbnven-
tions except to name delegates to
the national conventions, and to
select the presidential electors,
whose duty is simply to register
the expressed will of the people.
all the machinery of state con-
vention on the old plan thus pass
es away. No battles for delegates
will be fought. The voters will
be their delegates. No convention
will exist to be manipulated by
bargains, Influenced by dema-
gogues, swayed by emotiona|ism,
or stampeded. How the state tick
cts will be made up can not be
known until the ballots all over the
state are counted. Any one can
enter the lists who can command
a few thousand signatures among
men of his own party. Twenty or
more candidates for governor may
qualify in one party, and the one
who receives the largest number
Of votes will head the state ticket
ct Of his party. Pluralities will
decide when there is no majority.
This opens question of minority
rule that it would be frnitless to
discuss now. The primary law
may be altered by the Legislature,
but otherwise must be followed as
it stands. As an existing rule OF
action the best must be made of it
according to its present text, and
it is party duty to study it care
fully so as TO grasp its details in
telligently.
The first action on the part o1
voters will come when they arc
asked to sign the petition of can
didate. They must act within
their party. and can support but
one candidate for the same office.
When voter is requested to sign
a petition he should understand
that, in complying, he is perform
ing an important executive act
within his own sovereign politica]
power. Too often signatures are
given for various purposes with
no thought, and simply in an
obliging spirit. Other popular
duties to be attended to in the ap:
preaching campaign are to name
party committees, and to indicate
at the November election in 1908 6
choice for United States senator
The whole body Of voters in Mis-
souri, will see that new era has
Opened for them, and that the
fresh responsibilities they now
carry demand knowledge ant
thorough consideration.-Globe-
Democrat.