The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1909-07-12

ed last year have adjourned and
survey of the reforms achieved in gov
ernmental affairs is inspiring Fol
lowing are the principal ones:
DIRECT NOMINATIONS
Five more states have abolished the
nominating convention by installing
system of direct nominations. The
states are Michigan, New Hampshire,
Idaho Nevada and California In Mon
tana the senate and house each passed
a bill and then would not get togeth-
or in-g,
Nineteen states now possess man
datory system of direct nominations
covering practically all the offices eX-
cept that of delegates to he national
nominating conventions. These states
are California, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa,
Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Missis-
sippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New
Hampshire, North Dakota Oklahoma.
Oregon, South Dakota, Texas. Wash
ington and Wisconsin.
/. In four states there Is an optional
system of direct nominations covering
gates to the national nominating con-
ventions. The states are Alabama,
Florida, Kentucky and Tennessee.
In three states there Is a mandatory
system of direct nominations covering
practically all the offices except posi-
tions in the state government and de-
, legates to national nominating con-
yentions. These states are Minnesota,
Ohio and Pennsylvania
In four states there is a mandatory
system of direct nominations that an.
ply to certain localities or offices. These
states are Indiana, Massachusetts, New
Jersey and Tennessee.
In ten more states there is an on
tional system of direct nominations
covering certain localities or offices.
THESE states are Connecticut, Della
ware, Indiana, MARYLAND, Maine, Mas
sachusetts, New York, North Carolina
and Rhode Island.
In practically all of the southern
states there are direct nominations.
In other words, in about one-half of
the states of the union the corrunt
nominating conventions are abolished
except for the selection of delegates to
the national nominating conventions:
while in another cne-third of the
states direct nominations for certain
localities are legally required or the
system is optional
Reviewing the movement for direct
nominations it is clear that il is
sweeping the country, and with a
rapldlty that is almost incredible when
there is considered the strength of the
party machines and the peoples I'M
organized condition. In the words OF
PROFESSOR c. E. Merriam in his book
on Primary Elections, published last
year: THE inevitable conclusion from
STUDY of recent primary legislation
is that the delegate system is about
10 De supplanted by the new form of
nomination. So far as the
municipal elections are concerned If
must not be forgotten that nomination
by petition only looms I'D as a dan
gerous rival of the new system, while
the non-partisan primary is factor to
be seriously considered"
UNITED STATES SENATORS AND
REPRESENTATIVES,.
This year direct nominations have
been extended to the selection of Unit
ed States senators in four states: Cali
fornia, Nevada, Idaho and Michigan
This makes a total of twenty-nine
commonwealths wherein the United
States senators are directly nominal
ed, namely, Alabama, Arkansas, Cali
fornia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illino-
is, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, louisiana,
Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Missis-
sippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey,
North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ore
gon, South Carolina, South Dakota,
Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washing
ton and Wisconsin. This is a remark
able showing.
In three states now there is what
amounts to direct election of United
States senators These states are Ore
gon, Nevada and Nebraska Nearly all
of the party leaders are opposed to
this change, therefore the questioning
of candidates by citizens organizations
is the only way whereby direct cleo
tion of senators is likely to be Sc
cured
INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM.
Another reform in the government
tai machinery that is producing a
mighty increase in the peoples power
is the restoration of vote system for
questions of public policy-the initia-
tive and referendum. This year in
Arkansas the legislature submitted to
the people a splendid constitutional
amendment for the establishment of
the Initiative and referendum, to ap-
ply to the state constitution, statute
law and municipal law. In the SEN
ate the vote was unanimous and near
" so in the house, being 174 10 4. The
system proposed is the one in use in