Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1907-01-31
DIRECT PRIMARYLAW Legislative gossip;
SENATOR La Toilette TELLS OF
ITS WORKINGS IN WISCONSIN.
The Election Law Meets with popu-
uIar Approval In that State. An
Interesting Letter on the Subject
to President HOrr, of the Primary
League of Washington.

In letter to Christopher w. Horr,
president of the direct primary league of
the state OF Washi ,gton, Robert M. La
Toilette, United States Senator from
Wisconsin, explains the feeling OF the
people OF his state on the primary elec-
tion law. Senator La Toilette says gen.
eral comment and public sentiment as
to the operation of the law in Wisconsin
are universally favored regardless of par.
ty or faction. The following is the text
of his letter:
"In reply to the questions PROFOUND.
ed by you I will give the following
answers based upon our experience in
Wisconsin with the primary election
law in operation. will answer your
questions briefly by number.
General comment and public senti-
ment as to the operation OF the primary
election law in Wisconsin are UNIVERSAL
ly favorable regardless of party or fac
tion. Even those who most actively op-
posed the law before its adoption, accord
to it their approval after it has been
tried.
There is no demand for its repeal, or
If there is such demand it represents
very small number of citizens.
There is no great dissatisfaction with
any of its provisions. There is a senti-
ment entertained by large number of
voters, however, that the law should be
90 amended as to require voters in the
primaries to declare their party affiIia-
tions. believe this should not be done,
but that the secrecy of the BALLOT should
be maintained, and am confident that
practices which give rise to the demand
for an open ballot will in the course Of
brief time so react upon the guilty par.
ties that these practices will not be gen.
orally repeated.
1.-THE item Of expense, while formerly
a prominent issue against the enactment
Of the law, has scarcely been heard Of
since the law was passed and put into
application. This objection was very
clearly magni6ed in the campaigns to
prevent the law being enacted.
"Forty.fve per cent Of all voters voted
at the primary and the votes cast for the
nominees on the republican ticket equal.
ed SO per bent Of all votes cast for re-
publican nominees at the general elec.
ton following. The conditions were not
favorable to getting out large vote at
the primaries. The primaries were held
at time when the farmers especially
were very busy, and were paying their
help 50 and 81 day. The contest came
at the end Of an arduous struggle extend.
ing over several years and which appar-
emily was followed by the usual reaction
and abatement Of public interest in pol.
itical questions. These causes partly ex.
plain why majority vote was not poll
ed at the primaries, and there is every
reason to believe that in this respect the
first general primary under the Wiscon-
sin law was not fair test of that meas
ure.
'I, believe a direct primary election
law should provide for the expression by
the voters of first and second choice for
each nominee in such manner as to Sc.
cure majority nominations. have been
urging such an amendment to the Wis.
consin law. 1 believe also that the law
should be amended to provide a more
time for holding the primary
elections than that now provided in
Wisconsin,"