Willmar tribune., 1909-09-15

ions. From them, it secured a
mass Of testimony to the effect
that primary elections have proved
not only Enthusiastically, hut ac-
tually pernicious.
The arguments brought forward
against primary elections by these
of the boss-controlled
system of politics were often alb
surd; usually specious. and some
times subtle. They were given
wide publicity. Those who believe
in bringing the government as near
as possible to the people should not
be misled into accepting as evidence
against the impractiability or un-
desirability of the primary election
law the opinions of class of men
whose political power may have
been curtailed by the operation of
the law. Primary elections are Sc
curely established in the middle
west. Public sentiment will not
permit q return to the cut-and-
dried convention system. Serious
discussion in these states is con-
cerned not so much with the princi-
pie of direct nominations as with
ways and means of perfecting and
strengthening the laws now in
force. But in those states where
movements are now under way to
secure direct nominations every
effort should be made to give the
people the facts as to the expert
ence of the states where they are in
use.
In New York state a contest is
now on for primary election law.
Governor Hughes. not at all dis
couraged by his failure to secure
its enactment by the last legisla
ture, has carried the fight to the
people. Opposed to him in an al.
most unbroken line are the old-line
bosses, the machine politicians and
the political hangers.on both par.
ties. Behind these men are the
great interests who find it vastly
profitable to control the govern.
ment. The fight is a bitter one. 1t
is almost an exact counterpart of
the contests waged in every state
where direct nominations have al
ready been secured by the people.
1t is being followed with intense
interest throughout the country.
Undoubtedly the report of the
legislature committee that has Wis.
tied the middle western states for
the first hand information will be
an important factor in determining
the outcome. For this reason it is
imperative that the committee
should keep ever in mind the neces-
sity of discriminating carefully be-
tween facts and statements, be.
tween evidence and mere opinions.
And Governor Hughes and the peo-
pie of New York should make sure
that the committee, either unwit.
tingly or otherwise, does not carry
back to them a false impression
an impression gathered too largely
from the mere statements of men
who long for a return to the safe
land sane" caucus and convention
system. They should not be misled
by claims against the primary law
that are in reality violations of the
corrupt practices act. They must
not lose sight Of the fact that evil
may come out of any system Of
nominations. whether direct or in.
direct, If the penal laws governing
campaigns and elections are ig.
nored. They must refuse to accept
as evidence adverse to the principle
of direct nominations any undesir,
able or evil results brought about
under imperfect or incomplete pri.
mary laws. Above all, they should
remember that the nearer to the
people the nomination OF public
officials is brought, the more truly
representative will our government
become. Herein lies the strength
and the merit of the primary cleo
tion law. That is why the interests
and their political allies are fight.
ing it so desperately .-LaF ollette'
Weekly Magazine.