Los Angeles herald., 1909-05-09

have made it impossible to indorse a
popular candidate.
"For practical purposes, guess, they
have succeeded; but there is loophole
that will appeal to all worlxingmen.
1t is this: The ballots provide that a
blank space shall be left on the ballot
so that a voter can write in the name
of any candidate he pleases. Now,
while the person whose name appears
on another party ballot cannot be print
ed on, say the Union Labor ballot, still
there is nothing in the law to prevent
every Union Labor voter from writing
on his ballot the name of some popular
man who might be the candidate of
one or the other parties. Our friends
will do we'll to keep that point in view.
May Indorse Candidates
1.-THE last couple of paragraphs of this
paper were prepared previous to the re-
cent decision of the election commits
sioners of San Francisco, which in
the registrar of voters to pro-
ceed in accordance with an opinion
by them, that political parties
have a right to nominate candidate
regardless of whether he was a MEM
ber Of the party nominating him or not.
L
ment of candidates and that several
parties or organizations may nominate
the same candidates at the approach
ing primary.
"The supreme court of this state
has as yet not passed on the matter,
but it is to be hoped that it will up
hold the decision of the election COM
mission of San Francisco.
Senator LIE Roy Wright of San
Diego, who is given credit for father
ing the direct primary bill, introduced
another bill that would have proved a
severe blow to the workingman had it
not been killed.
"This was a scheme to prevent in
dependent nominations after the day
Of the primary. At present we can
wait until we see what sort of men
the Republican and Democratic or So
claiist parties, for instance, name; then
if we want to we can indorse certain
that are friendly to labor.
Senator Wright tried to prevent our
doing that, but the people set up such
a howl that he was dissuaded from his
scheme.
Los Angeles in the Front
"The right to make nominations
after the primary election is the great
est safeguard that we have; it should
never be surrendered.
I'm the limited time at my disposal
[ trust I have made myself plain re-
garding the general provisions Of the
law governing state elections.
"In all matters concerning civic
progress Los Angeles is always found
in the forefront. The citizens of this
city on February 2 of this year voted
on certain charter amendments, among
A II,
to direct primaries.
GAS will be remembered, this par
ticular amendment was bitterly fought
by the agents of the public utility cor
porations and the vicious and disrep-
utabie elements, always under their
"It is gratifying to record that the
carried by an emphatic
vote.
TITS provisions are more pronounced
and democratic than the state direct
law, allowing voters, irrespec-
tive of party designation, to determine
their choice.
"The primary nomination election
which, I trust, you will always bear
in mind is more important, even. than
the general election-shall be held not
less than three nor more than five
weeks preceding the general election In
December.
Praises NonaPartisan Feature
"Under its provisions petition,
signed by 100 qualified voters, entities
4 nominee to be placed on the primary
election ballot. No voter may sign
more than one petition for a candidate
for the same office.
Another provision-and, in my opin-
hQf TNla nd G11
1ers over the state LAWS that there
shall be nothing on any ballot indica-
tive Of the party affiliation, source of
or support of any candidate.
"In other words, and different from
the state law-which does not apply
to cities having taken the initiative
IN passing charter provisions to gov
ern themselves thus intelligently-in-
stead of voter asking for a ballot of
my one political party, he enters his
voting booth and Is handed a ballot
which contains the names of aspirants
for office and mark you again, these
are arranged alphabetically,
having no party designation, enabling
one to cast his vote without party
prejudice for the man, and not his
political affiliations.
THE two candidates receiving the
highest number of votes for any given
office at the primary nominating cleo
ton shall be the candidates, and the
only candidates, for such offices whose
names shall be printed on the ballots
to be used at the general municipal
election; provided, that where more
than one office of the same kind is to
be filed, the candidates therefor equal
ing, in number, twice the number of
such offices, who receive the highest
n
mating election shall be the candidates
and the only candidates for such Office
whose names shall be printed upon the
ballot to be used at such general cleo
ton.
Hold Balance of Power
"In the Endorsement of this council
for. this primary law, l remember, there
were delegates who believed 1t unwise
to limit the candidates on the general
election ballot to the two candidates
receiving the highest number of votes,
and where more than one office is to be
filled, the candidates therefor, equal in
number of such offices, who receive the
highest number of votes at the primary
election.
'It appears to me self-evident that
If a candidate who does not show suff1-
Client strength to poll the first or second
highest vote at the primary election
should be deemed, logically, as one who
would not be the choice of the people
at the general election.
ITO emphasize: If you men will make
the primary election your chief aim,
you can, unitedly, have your candidate
placed on the general election ticket
but if you don't poll the highest or
second highest vote you should be can
did enough to admit that you have not
sufficient strength to elect your nom
nee.
I'm any event, with the balance of
you undoubtedly have
you can elect at the general election the