Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-10
DIRECT PRIMARY NOMINATIONS.

Beaver CITY Tlmes-TTibune: There is a
bill before the legislature to repeal the
present primary law. While It will not be
passed. in all probability, yet we would like
to have a good old county convention again
both republican and democratic.
Pawnee Republican: 1t is hoped the leg
~islature will not repeal the direct primary
law. The law was passed for the sole pur-
pose of putting the government of affairs
out of the hands of politicians and ma
chimes and giving the people a chance to
rule. The law may be imperfect I'm some
respects, but 1t can be corrected by amend
ment. In no event should II be repealed.
Hastings Tribune: There is neither sense
nor justice in the proposed amendments to
the primary law, which would permit the
members of the republican party an even
voice in naming the democratic candidates,
and vice versa, or give the independent
voter an opportunity to assist nominating
candidates in either party. No democrat
should have anything to say in the naming
Of republican candidates, neither should
any republican have a voice in the select
ing of democratic candidates.
Burwell Tribune: We do rot think that
the state Legislature could make a greater
hit with the smaller counties of Nebraska
than by the repeal of the direct primary
law, but in repeating this law they should
use care and not give up one that will
work even a greater disadvantage than the
existing evil. The direct primary has been
given a fair trial in Nebraska, and 1t has
been demonstrated that at an expense of
about 50 per vote, nominees can be chosen
by the present primary law Possibly IT
may not be just the thing to go back to
the old convention style of nominations, but
we believe 1t would be even better to do
that than to continue to saddle the ex-
penses connected with the present primary
methods upon the public. The party in
power in the legislature have the oppor-
tunity to make good with all OF the smaller
counties of the state. II they will but enact
some legislation that will bring relief from
the expense attendant upon the present
primary system.
Scrlbner News: Among matters which
will occupy the attention of the present
legislature is the primary law. Two years
ago, although the matter had been given
little attention during the campaign and
no urgent public demand for its enactment
was apparent, the legislature passed the
primary law because it was classed as
reform legislation. After a two years trial
no particular enthusiasm for the law
mas MANIFESTED itself, nor is there any
noticeable demand for its repeal. 1t is pretty
generally admitted, however. that there
is no evidence that the course OF either
political party has been altered as the
result of the enactment OF the law. One
drawback is that good men refrain from
becoming candidates because in many
instances II Is necessary to make
two campaigns. The News believes in the
/ r,1rcI aaoffona ~ fIo a1o.. ~ ..--.
is favorable to a return to the old system.
The only source of corruption from these
sections was removed by the elimination
of the free pass. In the cities and larger
c%enters Of the population corruption mani
tests itself in other forms. but a law re-
quiring delegates to conventions from towns
over a certain population to be chosen
through the primary system would give the
people absolute control.