Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-06-16

cret conferences take the place Of one
public. legalized caucus We may as
well say with Napoleon Another such
a victory and we are undone." The
primary, more than any other thing.
has whitfield down the magnificent Re-
publican majority In Iowa. Senator
Cummins says he is glad that there Is
ifactionalism; we are not. We hate It!
The averag voter takes but little In
terest In the primary unless he Is
dragged to the polls by superhuman
efforts. The arguments used but fur
nish ammunition to the enemy, and we
doubt If the next four months will be
long enough to heal the wounds Of the
recent battle. II the election were to be
held tomorrow every Republican can
didate in Iowa would be defeated.
What did any man know, save per-
haps few educators, as to the com
parative merits of the seven candS-
dates for state superintendent? We
confess that we did not. We voted for
Chantland because he was an old
schoolmate: we voted for Person be-
cause he was friend OF P. j. Klink-
er; we voted for Deyoe because he was
q friend OF Charles X. Myers. We will
wager that these are as good reasons
as can be given by nine-tenths of the
voters for the way in which they cast
their ballots. This Is a representative
government. Why not make 1t SO? II
we must have q primary, why not
compel those who desire to be dele
gates to state convention to go be-
fore the people for their votes? The
people know the men Of their oGn
county; know whether they are to
be trusted know how they are align
ed and If there are factions, to which
they belong. The people OF county
are fully competent to decide who
shall be their delegates-much more
competent than they are to decide
which of seven men will make the best
state superintendent. The delegates
thus chosen by the direct vote of tho
people could then meet and select a
we'll balanced, well planned, well
thought out ticket. Such a ticket
could be distributed with regard to
geogra phical location. with regard to
harmonizing the elements Of the
party, with regard to nationalities. and
the result would be much better not
only from a party standpoint, but
mert.
The primary operates against the
farmer The cities, where the vote is
easier got to the polls and where there
Is large community of interest, will
always win in a primary contest.
The primary operates against the
poor man. He must make two fights
one in his own party, causing wounds
which are hard to heal; the second
regular election.
The primary frightens many good
men off the ticket. especially with a
minority party. Some OF the best men
can be made to accept nomination
rendered them by their party, even If it
be to lead but q forlorn hope; but
many will not go to the extent of seek
ing the office by filing affidavits, send
ing out petitions and going through all
poses.
The office is given no chance to seek
the nomination. A half dozen voters,
by writing in a name. may force an
unsatisfactory candidate on party.
If the present law must stand, there
should at least be a provision that no
man shall receive nomination who
does not get 10 per cent OF the total
vote cast by his party.
In this last primary the fight center
ed on the candidates for governor, and
in some district for congressman.
A side from these, practically no atten-
ton was paid tosthe Individual merits
Of candidates. tSi
The people are perfectly competent
to pass at q, direct primary upon coun-
ty officers and upon delegates to repr
resent them at state or other conven-
tons. but this Is as far as the primary
should go.
We know that 1t is unpopular to adj
nit that the American people are not
competent to pass on anv question OFF,
hand, but IL we are honest with our
selves we must own that the primary
ballot Is a staggerer
The initiative and referendum pro-
posed by Bryan and the socialists Is
much more sound in principle than is
the primary. The primary offers no OPP
portunity for compromise. It must be a
knockdown and and drag out fight be-
tween friends.
We hate the primary!