Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-01-12

mortgages, based upon the amount
and time to run, and many other
features OF taxation are attracting
much attention.
Our methods of distribution of val.
ues are open to criticism; especially
is this true as to telegraph, telephone
and railway terminal property. Many
OF these questions are OF such magni-
tude and Importance that ! do not be-
lieve that they can be properly dealt
with during the time of an ordinary
session of your honorable body. l
therefore recommend that commits.
sion be provided to study carefully
all the phases of the taxing question,
prepare an entire new revenue code
and submit it to the next session Of
the general assembly.
Should Correct Primary Law.
One of the important matters that
should receive the attention of your
honorable body is that of the primary
election law. 1t ought to be so
amended as to make it absolutely
fair and SO far as possible, free from
opportunities for abuse. Irregulari-
ties in the name of reform are no
more excusable than under any other
circumstances. If charges that have
been made are true there can be no
question bat that many delegates to
the last republican state convention
won their seats by sharp political prac-
tice either upon the part Of them.
selves or of others. I am not refer
ring to any particular faction. There
ought not to be any ground for such
charges, and a law that makes such
things possible should either be
amended or wiped OF Of the statute
books.
1t has been freely stated that in
manv instances. lists or primary dele
gates were made up by parties who
were not residents of the precincts
and who had no interest in the dele
gates chosen except to be able to Sc
cure or control their votes.
Much complaint has also been made
as to methods pursued in the selec-
ton of committeeman and with re-
gard to the printing Of pastors and
marking them before they were hand
ed to the voter. The paster has al
ways been and, in my opinion, al
ways will be a source of abuse. Its
use should be abandoned and the
names OF all delegates and commit.
teemen should be filed with the coun-
ty auditor and printed on the ballot.
The same care should be exercised
with regard to these matters as is
exercised as to candidates for Office.
The primary law conveys the idea
that party lines and party organiza-
tons are to be recognized and re-
spected. It not only makes no ade-
quate provision for enforcing party
Affiliations, but it affords easy oppor-
t,,nity for an utter disregard thereof
There can be no valid reason assign.
ed why the law should recognize the
right Of any party to have its ticket
printed upon the official ballot to be
voted at the general election unless
party lines are to be respected and
maintained in the naming of candi-
dates.
Destroys Party Lines.
The claim that the voters of ons
party interfere with the naming OF
candidates of another party is more
than mere suspicion This is clearly
shown by an analysis of the vote Of
Polk county at the general election
in 1908 and at the primary In 1910.
In 1908 President Taft received 49,
555 votes and Mr.. Bryan received T.
9o4 votes. At the primary in Junes
1910, the two republican candidates
for governor received 1882 votes
and all of the democratic candidates
for governor received only us votes.
In other words AT more republicans
voted in the primaries in Polk county
last June than voted at the preceding
presidential election and 7,149 demo-
Gratis stayed away from the polls, or
for every republican who stayed away
a democrat voted in the republican
primary. Is there any one who be.
lieves that the number of republicans
who voted at the last June primary
was 1884 per cent of those voting at
the preceding presidential election,
while the democratic vote at the pri.
mary was less than 9.S per cent of
the presidential vote of that party?
I do not believe that any man will
contend that such a policy is either
in the interests of good political
morals or party integrity. 1t can have
but one ultimate result and that is
the splitting of the majority party in
to hostile factions and the disintegra.
ton of the minority party. believe
1t to be your duty to so amend the
law as to obviate this abuse.
Alphabetical Preference.
Two years ago + called the atten-
ton Of the legislature to the fact that
the alphabetical arrangement OF
names upon the ballot apparently
gave an advantage to the candidate
whose name came first. The thirty
third session of the general assembly
so amended the law as to provide