The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1908-04-03

ed in many counties of the
state. Communications have
been written from Van Buren,
county, stating that the local
option law is a farce here, and
that it is a detriment to the
county, but there is always a
motive behind such statements
and they. do not express the
sentiment of a majority of the
people of this county.
Thus it is with the Primary.
The fact that Edwy c. Reid
favors the Primary in Allegan
county, is not conclusive evil
dence that it is satisfactory to
a majority of the Republicans
of that county, or that the sys-
tenn would be advantageous to
Van Buren, county. The True
Northerner has several letters
from prominent Republicans in
Allegan county, stating that the
Primary is not satisfactory.
One of said letters we publish
herewith. Its writer, G. F..
Dawson, is editor of the Allie
gan Press, leading Republican
paper of Allegan county. He
is secretary of the Republican
committee and has always been
identified with the political
welfare of Allegan county. He
is not a candidate for office, a
disappointed aspirant for politi-
cal patronage, or a sore head. "
His statements are worthy of
the careful consideration of the
Republican voters of Van Blu
rem county. The letter is as
follows =
Allegan, Mich, March 81, 1908.
To the Editor of the Northerner:
/ have noted with interest the
progress of the primary campaign in
your county, and feel sure that it
will terminate satisfactorily TO
majority Of the people. l have read
with particular interest the communi-
cations on the subject in your paper
and in other papers of the county
and it seems to me that so far the
old-time Republicans, the ants, if you
wish to call them such, have the best
OF the argument. | note further that
your Democratic competitor, the
Courier, recently copied an editorial
from the Gazette of this village in
which it was stated that primary re-
form had been very satisfactory here,
and in all probability, even though
the Republicans of Van Buren, county
did not vote sufficiently strong in
favor of it to carry it, there would
be enough majority for the PROPOSE
tion here to carry the district. This
is the view of a man who supported
Justus s. Stearns in two doodle"
campaigns for governor, and who
stated at the time that all the money
Mr.. Stearns spent was in the interest
of primary reform, and to bring about
a system by which the expenditure Of
money illegitimately would be impos-
sible. Perhaps it is unnecessary to
say anything more about this particu-
lar editorial or its writer, for the
people can readily see why the Ga
zette favors primary reform-par-
ticularly Of the Stearns kind
However, | do not believe the peo-
pie Of Allegdn county are generally
with the primary nominal
ton system. Only a few weeks ago,
when we were making efforts to Sc
cure enough signatures to petitions
to insure submission Of the question
this spring-to vote for nominating
state senator by direct vote-it was
very hard work in some townships to
make even a respectable showing. In
one township only two signatures
were obtained. and one Of those was
that of the man to whom the petition
was sent for circulation. In another
township which Senator Bates visited
personally and left blank petitions,
nothing was done until his second
visit, the prominent Republicans of
the place telling him there was no
sentiment for primary reform and
that his denomination was assured
anyway, and he need not worry Well,
he was not worrying; but i'm order to
make any kind Of a showing he Sc
cured a man to circulate the petition
and paid him for two days time out
Of his own pocket How many sig
natures were thus obtained l do not
know, but the feeling over the ques-
ton is shown. In several other town
ships very few names were obtained
though in others-particularl i'm
Allegan and opkins-where special
effort was made, good lists were OBJ
tanned, and the writer signed the
petition here, just 10 help get the
matter submitted. These things show
he drift of public sentiment.
As to nominations under this law
FOR county officers. We tried il last
year and have no fault to find with
he officers chosen, but / am certain
hat just as good men, and in fact the
'ame men, would have been nomin-
ited under the caucus and convention
system, with a very great reduction in
expense to themselves, besides a great
saving of time and labor To make
canvass for a county office under the
primary system is exceedingly ex-
)ensive. and there is no reason to ex-
)ect a great difference should candi-
lates for state senator be nominated
n the same way. Under il, each
candidate must make a personal can
'ass. In this county now, four or five
IF the active candidates for sheriff
nave been running about the county |