The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-03-16

mere IS AlNl Httu 0l Iudiudlpig y
primary law by lhe state legislature
( il Governor G. N. Haskell is right
IN his Interpretation os the eoGsts
+ tuition. The question is often asked,
le said the other day, whether or
not a party candidate at the election
must be nominated by the primary
system My answer is that under
I the constitution all party candidates
Z for district. state, county or municipal
offices must be nominated by pri-
mary This includes congressman
and United States senators, also, ard
| state further. the state election
lOoard Will certainly place no party
candidates. name on the ticket who Is
nominated by the direct primary. The
people have adopted that plan in the
consultation, are entitled to have II
| n effect, and there VIII be no excep.
tion TO this rule.
The democrats in Oklahoma are
by no means agreed that mandatory
primaries are wholly desirable. unless
limit Is fixed on the amount Of
money candidate may spend for
campaign purposes. Some of the
candidates We're held up for thou
sands of dollars in the last campaign.
which they claim was unnecessary
aud unjust Candidates that did not
have the money TO spend came to the
conclusion that only rich man could
run successfully for office under the
direct primary system"
The article that is quoted above
has been sent out in all the country
papers of the state by the Western
Newspaper Union, and does not re-
fleet the ideas OF either of the legis-
latpre or the democratic party II
Is a certainty that the governor of Ok
lahoma Is a suory advocate of man
datory primary law. He was chair
man of the primary committee in the
constitutional convention and Section
3 Of Article Of the constitution pro-
vides that the Legislature shall enact
laws providing for a mandatory pri-
mary system which shall provide for
the nomination Of all candidates in
all elections for state. distnct coun-
ties and llanigipal officers for all
parties including United States SEN
atora.
During the constitutional conven.
tion ! had the honor TO be manager
of the press bureau and used the
news to papers OF Tie state know
doubt by the nomination OF the Hon.
ing that the farmers and the common
people read the country newspapers.
The article quoted above must be
Inspired by some one who is opposed
70 the mandatory primary law. The
democratic party as an organization
the Farmers union. and federated la
Dor have demanded in no uncertain
terms the passage OF the mandatory
primary law agreeing To the provi.
stons Of the constitution. The legis.
lature will not adjourn without pass.
ins sla,h law. and II must be a
good one Provisions must be made
for fun publicity to be given of all
expenditures by cur candidates and
the campaign committees. The last
primary demonstrated beyond any
doubt that poor man would have a
chance and the rich candidate could
not buy the vote of the common peo-
pie. This is proven beyond any
doubt by the nominatin of the Hon.
Thomas p Gore to the United States
senate.
There must be nc faltering IN the
legislature on this question of man
datory law Let them do their duty
and redeem the promises that they
have made to the people of the state.
Clint Worrall in Hobart Chief