The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-06-17
OBJECTIONS TO THE PRIMARY.
New System of Making Nominations
for Higher and State Offices
Invites fractional Strife.

before the primary. Written at time
when the outcome could not affect
the judgment, either in the matter of
undue qualification or of sad misgiv-
ings.
We dislike the primary. We have
been in number of campaigns. We
have helped to fight the battles OF the
Grand Old Party, but this is tne first
time we have been constrained to
antagonize our friends and fellow
workers. 1t has been positive pain
to see the GOODNESS grow between
those who have worked together for
so many years. To see whispered con-
ferenees in which one was not invited
to share; to have conversations sud
denly cease when one came along;
and in the same way TO be obliged to
keep ones own plans from those with
whom he has been wont to hold conf
dences. Three of the best friends we
have were lined UP on the other side
of the controversy yesterday, and for
the past month we, who have been al
most as brothers, have met well-nigh
as strangers We shall make it our
business to try to get back to the old
footing as soon as possible, but such
scars take long time to heal and
the game is not worth the estrange-
ments it caused. This is only an in
| stance. throughout the entire state
/ this has been going on. 1t is bad
enough to fight Democrats, but it is
4 h<o Grh
| The primary is a farce. Each fac
ton goes back to the caucus idea.
I Two secret conferences take the place
| of one public, legalized caucus. We
may well say with Napoleon Another
such victory and we are undone The
primary, more than any other thing.
has Whitfield down the magnificent Re
j publican majority in Iowa. Senator
Cummins says he is glad that there
is factionalism; we are not We
hate it,
The average voter takes but little
interest in the primary unless he is
dragged to the polls by superhuman
efforts. The arguments used but fur
nished ammunition to the enemy, and
We doubt IL the next four months
will be long enough to heal the
wounds of yesterdays battle. If the
election were TO be held tomorrow
every Republican candidate in Iowa
would be defeated
What did any man know yester
day, save perhaps a few educators
as to the comparative merits of the
seven candidates for state superin
tendent? We confess that we did not
We voted for Chantland because he
was an old schoolmate; we voted fol
Person because he was friend of P
] Klinker; We voted for Deyoe be
cause he was a friend of Charles K
Meyers. We will wager that these
are as good reasons as can be giver
by nine-tenths of the voters for the
way in which they cast the ballots
: This is a representative government
Why not make 1t so? If we mus
have a primary, why not compel thos.
who desire TO be delegates to a state
convention to go before the people 70
their votes. The people know tn
men of their own county: know
whether they are TO be trusted; know
= how they are aligned and, if Their
way in which they cast their ballots
The people of a county are fully CON
petent to decide who shall be thei
delegates-much more competen
than they are TO decide which of sey
: en- strangers will make the best stat
superintendent The delegates thu
chosen by the direct vote of the pee
pie could then meet and select
well balanced. well planned, we
thought out ticket Such a tickle
could be distributed with regard t
= geogr aphical location, with regard t
harmonic the elements of the part!
with regard TO nationalities, and tn
result would be much better, nc
= only from party standpoint, but fror
/ the standpoint of good government
d The primary operates against tn
farmer
u The cities, where the vote is easie
, gotten to the polls and where ther
y lis a larger community Of interes
i will always win in primary col
test.
The primary operates against tn
IS poor man.
% He must make two fights--one
IS his own party, causing wounds whic
IS are hard to heal; the second againi
IS the opposing candidate at the reguls
lie election -
n The primary frightens many GOO
10 men off the ticket, especially with
ly minority party. Some of the be
r. men can be made to accept nomin
e ton rendered them by their part
even If it be lead but a forlorn hope
bnt many will not go to the extel
of seeking the office by filing affida
IT its, sending out petitions and goir
an through all the red tape which Il
n primary imposes.
ly The office is given no chance
ry seek the man.
lc- A half dozen voters, by writin
er in name, may force an unsatisfa
es tory candidate on a party If Il
'ly present Law must stand there shou
a ar !.