Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-02-17
PRIMARY Law { WASHINGTON
Jackson siIb.ush III Western Nom
mating Plan Be,.Sr Than Ours.

EDITOR CENSOR: / noticed short
while ago that during a discussion go-
ing on In the state in reference to some
amendments to the primary law, my
esteemed friend Assemblyman Mains,
had answered an inquiry from Mil
waukee paper concerning two proposed
amendments. Both the clauses referred
to are embodied in the Washington law
and word concerning their practical
operation might be instructive and of
interest to your readers at this time.
The features referred to are, first, the
second choice; second, a clause com
pelling the voter to designate his party
affiliation before being allowed to vote.
| noticed Mr.. Mains was in favor of the
latter but opposed to the former.
The Washington law provides that in
cases where there are four or more
candidates for office that voters should
be required to designate one first choice
and one second choice in each such Of
fee. If no candidate receives more
than 40% of the first choice votes, then
first and second choice votes should be
counted in making up the total votes of
each. This in my judgment, squarely
meets one of the main objections to the
primary law before its adoption in Wis
IOnsin. Ii was always contended by
its opponents in both parties that when
there was multiplicity of candidates
the undesirable element might take adj
vantage of the split between the sup
porters of several good men and nomi-
nate very inferior one. In this state
last fall there We're five or six men rum
ming for governor on the republican
gptf 1t,f katr ,4.t
vention had taken a strong stand in
favor of temperance legislation, so the
liquor forces We're very active during
the primary campaign.
Mead and Cosgrove were both strong
advocates of temperance laws and it
was impossible for the temperance peo-
pie of the state TO unite all their forces
on either one of these two candidates.
The liquor interests are not ordinarily
controlled by either sentiment or friend
ship when their financial interests are
at stake. Hence the Royal Arch, a
very strong secret society composed
entirely of liquor dealers, united on a
third candidate, with the result that he
received the largest number of first
choice votes, but not the necessary 40%.
Counting the first and second choice
votes, Samuel Cosgrove, a clean and
patriotic man, received the nomination.
As to the second principle: Our pri-
mary law in this state compels the vot-
er to state, at the time he offers his
vote, to what party he belongs, when
he is given the ticket of his own party,
and the poll books show the party tick
ct that he voted. This feature has
been the subject of a great deal Of
criticism by the minority party in this
state, but it will not be changed. If a
voter takes part in IA party convention,
by that act alone he indicates his party
and see no reason why he should not
do the same thing when he makes Sc
lection of the candidate of his party at
a primary election. The practical oper-
alton of the primary law of this state
| is so satisfactory to the people that
there is no expressed sentiment in fav-
or of change to the old system. Judg-
| ing from newspaper accounts of condi-
tions IN Wisconsin it would seem that
| it has been much more satisfactory
than your experiences in that state.
Congressman Wesley l.. Jones, a
clean, able and aggressive young man,
was overwhelmingly nominated for SEN
ator over Levi Anthong, n millionaire,
who is said TO have used money TO pro
cure his election by the legislature six
years ago. The young men of the
state rallied TO Jones support, and un-
influenced by money or desire TO spite
any one or pay a political debt, the
voters of the state, with the use OF the
primary, selected the man who can best
serve the interests of the scate in the
senate of the United States. Mr. Jones
primary expenses were exactly 5000. ID.
| We are accustomed to hear Wisconsin
held up as leader in the great reforms
that have been brought about in the
last years, and we should dislike to see
anything happen that would destroy
your faith in the primary plan in select
| ing candidates for office And when
you want any good advice as to the
best means of running things politically
just ask your young sister state on the
coast about it. Respectfully,
JACKSON S1LBAuGH.
Seattle. Wash. Feb. 6, 1909.