Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-28
Nebraska
AUBURN MAN FOR OPEN PLAN
E. B. Quackenbush SAYS He Wants
This Sort of Primary.
VII ARRTvE UPON sCENE. LIVE
candidate for speaker Obliged 90 Try
Lawsuit IL Kansas City
AdaIr Secures Reduction
Of Sentence.

From q Staff Correspondent
LINCOLN. Ncb. Dec. 27.-special)-|
81 am in favor OF the most open pri-
mary law that we can draft said r
v. Quackenbush Of Auburn this morning
I'VE haven't tried II out fairly oven IN
the form in which II was the law at the
last election and ought not to condemn the
principle. or course u worked havoc this
one time but worry probably such condi-
tious would never he met again.
- don't know whether they will close
the primary. make II wide open, or repeal
the whole law. but n bill appears asking
for a wide-open primary (which will allow
any voter to mark in any party column or
in all Of them. I am for that bin. IN tell
you why. Conservative high class mem win
not swear they belong to another party IN
order 10 get chance to vote for that
party's candidates. with the closed primary
a man has to pretend what Is not true or
stick to his party's candidates for the nomi-
nation. a large part OF the voting strength
Of the state will do this, but the rifraff
will not do so. They will vote as they
are told, In any party's column. They have
no party and the special interests can con-
troll the placing Of their votes. This puts
the honest voter at disadvantage. In an
absolutely open primary the conservative.
intelligent voters who think out their votes
will be able conscientiously 20 mark over as
scattered a number OF candidates as the
dishonest voter who goes where he is told"
To he on Ground Late.
Mr.. Quackenbush is a democratic candi-
date for speaker. He has been waging a
vigorous campaign by letter but is not
willing TO make any predictions as TO the
outcome, but In his refusal to discuss the
situation an optimistic smile that in
dicated the candidate has high hopes or
winning. Mr.. Quackenbush will be at a
disadvantage in the struggle for organiza-
| ton in that he cannot be on the ground
early. He goes tonight to Kansas city to
try lawsuit which cannot be postponed
and which will probably keep him busy I'M
I'll Saturday. Hence he will not reach LIN
coin before Saturday evening This will
leave him but little time I'm which to prose-
cute his campaign. Most Of the members
will be on hand before he does and "medi-
cine mixing" will be in fun blast forty
eight hours before the Nemaha county
candidate puts In an appearance.
! Mr. Quackenbush is aware Of this stu
alton and does not like it, However, he ex-
| poets to be well represented by adherents
in the contest His opponent up to date
is John Kuhl of Randolph Mr.. Quacken-
bush has the backing of most of the dry
democrats and a few wet ones, while
Kuhl's main support will be drawn from
the wet membership. He did not care to
discuss the organization this morning, but
in answer to a direct question reiterated
statement in which he has formerly been
quoted to the effect that he would not go
into an iron-clad democratic caucus, such
as has customarily been held by the dom
inant party the day before the session
opened H.-s
Members-elect will be dropping in for the
first session within two or three days. No
/ caucuses have been called except the demo-
cratic senatorial one for Monday after
noon. 1t is more than probable that a Sc
ries OF conferences will be held before the
final formal caucus is attempted.
TreRsurers' Association.
The formation of a Nebraska county
tTeasurers association will be the purpose
OF a meeting of county treasurers to be
held in Lincoln January IS and 10. Seventy
five or more treasurers and deputies are
! expected to attend the initial session Of the
| association, Letters from over the state
indicate that the money caretakers are
much interested in the move
Included in the list Of questions which
the treasurers are to discuss are several
matters dealing with proposed changes in
the statutes governing the conduct Of their
offices. A move to repeal the law prohib-
iting the continuance in office OF one treas
urer for longer than four consecutive yeara
may be considered. In several counties It
Is said that good treasurers are about to be
| thrown out OF office on account of the in,
! flexible character OF this requirement
Another question in which the treasurers
are much interested is that OF salaries.
Higher wage provisions may be urged upon
the legislators as a result Of the gathering
Of officeholders.
Uniform methods Of accounting is a third
topic scheduled for discussion. In Mime
sofa the state law requires an absolute
uniformity of accounting systems, and
many Nebraska treasurers would like to
see similar requirement in effect IN this
state.
Aid 60 Weak school Districts.
| In compliance with the provisions OF
section l4b, subdivision 2. school laws,
which provides that the state superintend-
ent Of public instruction shall on or be-
fore the last Monday Of December Of each
! year certify to the state auditor the
amounts of state aid due the several
counties, State Superintendent Bishop sub
mits the following statement, showing the
counties entitled to share in this appro-
prlation with the amount due each county
December g. 1910:
No. OF Amount