Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1910-04-26
A State Convention.

mittee, at its meeting held in Milwau-
kee last week, decided to call a state
convention TO be held in July. At
this convention party platform is to
be adopted, and at meeting to be
held early in June the question
of the date of the convention and
whether candidates are to be suggested
for nomination at the primaries will
then definitely be determined.
The decision of the committee offers
opportunity to the democratic press
and the voters of the party for a full
and free discussion of the adyisability
of the conventions suggesting candi-
dates to be voted for at the primaries.
The very fact that there is wide
spread feeling that this should be done
emphasizes one of the weaknesses of
the present primary law and under
the peculiar conditions now existing
among The voters of this state, there
is the growing conviction that in order
TO live up to the opportunity which,
these conditions present to the demo-
cratic party, there must be selection
of candidates, whose personality,
character and ability will be guar
antee of fitness and service.
To permit the primaries to become
free-for-all race of self constituted
seekers for Office and without united
or organized effort for the achievement
Ct definite purpose, would be TO leave
the chances of success too much de
pendent upon the haphazard results of
the primary. One need not be an OPP
ponent of the direct nomination
system to concede that in statewide
campaign, where six candidates are to
be nominated for six state offices,
direct.primary without selection or
supervision by party organization
the results in the interest of the people
connot be of the best. On the other
hand in limited territory for the Sc
lection Of an alderman or assemblyman
the direct primary with proper regula-
lions presents an ideal method for the
selection of candidates. The prelimi-
nary meeting provision of the old law
which afforded the opportunity to the
voters of presenting candidates to be
voted for at the primary was, for such
limited territory, a much better pro-
vision and gave better results in
candidates asa whole than the present
requirement of the candidate announc-
ing himself and filing nomination
papers.
After passing through period of
| disorganiZation, such as parties have
been subjected to in this state during
the past years, there is another ele-
ment of danger, especially for a
minority party. in the requirement
adopted at the last session of the
legislature that at least 20 per cent of
the party vote must be cast at the
primary to entitle it to place on the
ticket under party designation.
With free-for-all primary the result
of this provision may result in gaps to
the detriment of the general ticket
however well selected, while on the
other hand should there be ticket
selected at the state convention, that
very fact might result in such lack of
attendance at the primary as to cause
falling off in the vote below tie 20
per cent required by law. In view of
this possible contingency it has been
suggested that the state convention
present two nQmilsees for each office
for which candidate is to be nomi-
mated at the primary, and it is argued
that by the selection of two especially
we'll qualified nominees for each office
the work of the convention would seem
less like dictation or an effort to cir
cumvent the primary law, while on
the other hand it would stimulate a
greater interest and attendance at
The primary by injecting the friendly
rivalry OF such party contest and at
the same time eliminate the large ex-
penSe which experience under the law
has shown, follows the personally con-
Quoted primary campaign. All these
various phases require the careful con-
sideration of the state central COM
mittee and especially the delegates
who will make up the convention.
The democratic party cannot afford
to have the scramble for office that is
indicated in the republican ranks;
interest there centerS in who will re-
ceiye q plurality for the nomination
for governor and nominations for
other places on the ticket are liable
to. go TO the selfseekers by default.
Do not let us deceive ourselves.
When the democratic party won out
in this state it was with real issues
and real men. We must meet the
prevailing feeling of unrest and the
desire for change in this state by
presenting men of exceptional ability
for every Office on the state ticket.
The governor and other state officers
to be elected cannot change the tariff,
but they can give to this state an
economical and conservative admins
tration.
To succeed, we require not only the
full democratic vote, but a consider
able vote from the independent ranks
and we must gain the good will and
confidence of the many who are dis
satisfied and tired of the methods
promises and practices of the self con-
stituted reformer whose fulfillments
have not squared with the fulsome
promises.
Nothing will so much appeal to the
voter this fall as a state ticket made
up OF men whose character, ability
and standing are of themselves a
guarantee of real service in the
interest of the whole people and the
state.