The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1908-02-14
co MMUN|C ALTON
Jason Woodman Replies to Arti-
Gle by George Rich in Last
Weeks Issue.

In last weeks issue OF The True
mary elections written by George L..
Rich of Waverly. The article referrt d
to is dispassionate in tone, commend able
in spirit and as strong an argument for
the primary as l have seen. / desire to
take this matter up and present the
negative side OF the question.
AS my friend, Mr. Rich, has we'll said,
the object we have in view'in discussing
this matter and the basis OF its final SET
Element should be, and l sincerely hope
will be, The good Of the people and the
party and future welfare of old Van
Buren,"
1t cannot be successfully denied by
the advocates of this proposed innova-
ton tina those who hold office in this
county are men of upright character,
honest in business affairs and capable,
conscen tious public officials. l do not
believe, nor do the people of this count,
believe, that these men have resOrted to
caucus packing" bribery or lying to
further their political ambitions. Ii
those advocating this so-called reform
know where unclean methods have sue
ceeded in this county, the time has no10
come TO lag The facts before he public.
This must be dome by advocates OF Tie
primary or their case fditS .fat.
am in favor of retaining the conven
ton, because, so far as my knowledge
goes, il corrupt methods have been at
| tempted in this county they have not
succeeded. have been ia the counties
of Muskegon, Oceana, Kent, Wayne and
Berrien while primary campaigns were
in progress. know that dirty methods
are common ia primary elections and
that they often win.
A few weeks ago Tue True Northernes
| editorislly called attention to the pos
sibility of undesirable" candidates be.
ing nominated by a minority vote under
the primary plan, My brother Rich, IL
commenting on this statement says
cit is practically impossible and not al
all probable, and do not believe such g
thing would ever occur" George, ge
your RED Book" for 1905 Turn Il
page 629 in the list of county officers
On that page you will see vacancy
marked "a" That vacancy stands fo
the pame Of criminal nominated fo
sheriff by minority vote in primary
In another county of this state tina
year, a saloon keeper was nominated
for sheriff by minority vote Both o
these men were elected by the "t.oose
welt vote" of that year. Even with thu
brief experience we have had with tn,
primary in Michigan, numerous case
can be cited of other minority nomina
tons so unsatisfactory that the men 81
nominated, either were elected by yer,
narrow margins, or were defeated at tn,
polls Mr.. Rich says that he does no
believe that such undesirable" nomina
tons would ever occur They freq uent
| ly have occurred under the primary
1t is a common occurrence for candidat e,
for county Offices to be increased from
five to ten aspirants for one office.
The ease with which an '"undesirab BILE
candidate is nominated by mnorlt!
vote, after being manipulated by cues
tiouable means, ls defect in the pri
mary systsss.sa- for which no remedy hal
been suggested. A divided majority is
helpless in such cases, for under the
primary, there is 20 chance for second
choice where honest men can get to-
gether.
Would introducing such conditions in
old Van Buren, "be for the good of the
people and the partly"
JASON WooDmAN.