The San Francisco call., 1908-12-19
SYNOPSIS OF MEASURE AND ITS PURPOSES

The bill proposed by the Direct Primary
league OF California to require the hold
ing of primary elections for the selec-
tion of partisan candidatesefor public
Office is exactly consonant with the
state platforms adopted by the repub-
lican, democratic and union labor
parties of this state in 1908; with the
platform declarations made by those
parties in 1906, and 1t provides COM
plete and simple method of carrying
out the intent and purposes Of assem-
bly, constitutional amendment No.
which the electors of California rati-
fed at the general election in Novem-
Der, 1908, by a majority of approXi-
mately 100000 votes.
1t embodies the best provisions OF
the Minnesota, Kentucky, Wisconsin
Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska. Okla
homa, Oregon and Washington direct
primary laws and is worked out in de-
tail to conform TO the general code pro-
visions for elections now in force In
California. 1t is absolutely free from
fads or untried theories Of direct nomi-
nations and il does not include a single
provision that has not been tried and
proved in one or mere of the states in
which candidates for public Office are
nominated by direct vote.
1t provides a simple and complete
system whereby the people are granted
the same privilege and freedom OF
choice in the nomination of their par
tisan candidates for public Office that
they now exercise in the election OF
candidates at the general election.
1t brings all primary elections under
the control of the state and makes the
primary election a proceeding of the
same dignity, regularity and interest
as Is the general election.
1t provides for the direct control OF
their party organizations by the peo-
pie and for strengthening and popu-
larizing those organizations by MAX
ing them Immediately responsive to the
people.
1t applies the principles of the AUS
tralian ballot and the present system
of conducting general elections to pri-
mary nominating elections in a manner
so simple and clear that the voter will
have no new thing to learn and that
a child may readily understand its
every operation.
It's enactment will give every quail
fed elector an honest and equal chance
TO exercise all his inherent rights as
a partisan either as voter or as an
aspirant for nomination to public office
1t is not partisan or factional
measure. Its provisions apply alike to
all men and all parties, and they guar
is not the product of single mind or
clique with Interior, personal or po1iti-
cal purposes to serve.
1t was drawn by COMMITTEES OF
recognized leaders OF both the repub-
lican and democratic parties who have
rendered most distinguished services to
California and her people. 1t repre-
sents the unremitting research and
labor of that committee and its assist
a <sf =
two years. The personnel of that com
mittee and the unanimous Endorsement
of its work by the leaders of the best
thought in the republican, democratic
and union labor parties and by great
civic organizations are absolute guar
antees OF the honesty OF the proposed
measure and it's faithfulness to the un-
adorned theory and practice of direct
nomination for public Office
The men who drew the bill proposed
by the Direct Primary league of Calf
fornia are:
Senator Leroy A. Wright of San
Diego. who, as Il member of the last
legislature, introduced and successfully
fought for the submission of the direct
primary constitutional amendment, rat
ified by an overwhelming popular vote
at the November general election.
Judge NJ. T. Dooling Of Hollister. one
Of California's most distinguished ju-
rists. known and trusted in every
community in this state. and who, in
the last campaign. was unanimously
chosen by the republican and demo-
cratic parties in his district to succeed
himself on the superior bench.
Hon. John +. Davis of San Francisco,
ex-eode commissioner OF California and
ex-state senator. TO whom. more than
any other one man. California is in
debted for the superior manner in