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

porte hsl. hty-nine counties gave a
majoi.-. Of votes to the candidate
whose name came first, and In the
remaining ten counties it is quite
clear that seven others were affected
by location, two by the fact that the
candidates resided in them. 1t will
thus be seen that for what might be
termed minor state offices candidates
are being nominated almost by
chance and not by deliberation based
upon knowledge and judgment as to
fitness for the position sought. Can
it be said that such results are con-
sistent with the highest type OF official
service?
These results have led many to con-
clude that it would be wise to SO
amend the law as to exempt from its
provision all state officers except
governor and lieutenant governor.
There is much argument in favor Of
this suggestion and WREN Invested OF
mere sentiment there is not much
against 1t.
Elect Delegates at Primary.
One of the inconsistencies Of the
law is that we require candidates for
state offices to go before the people
at primary but we select delegates
to the state convention which may be
called upon to nominate candidates
for state Offices. through a county
convention. Were writing primary
law l should provide that the dele
gates to the state convention should
Ne elected at direct primary, would
forbid the use of proxies and would
then nominate candidates for state
offices by convention, composed Of
the men whom the people had Sc
lected.
am not in favor Of the repeal OF
the primary law but am In favor of
such amendments as will make it
fair and just. That widespread oppo-
sition exists as to the entire system
there can be no room for dispute, but
whether this opposition shall cease
and the law become a permanent part
of the statute Of our state depends
upon whether 1t shall be freed from
It's many abuses and Objectionable
features s
Since there can be no doubt but
that when the time comes for the
selection of delegates to the national
convention of 1912 question will BIZ
raised as to whether the delegates
selected at the recent primary shall
constitute the county conventions to
name delegates to the state conven-
tions which are to select delegates
to the national conventions, I deem
1t expedient to call your attention to
the fact that much difference OF. opin-
ion exists with reference thereto.
Those who hold that the primary
delegates chosen lasts year will consti-
tute the county convention base their
conclusions upon the language Of sec
ton 10S7-a25 of the supplement to
the code as amended which reads:
"The term Of Office of such delegates
shall begin on the day following the
final canvass of the votes by the
board of supervisors and shall con-
tinue for two years and until their
successors are elected" while those
who hold the opposite view base their
conclusions upon the fact that no
where is there any reference in the
primary law to any thing regarding
delegates to a national convention or
to the convention itself, and they
further argue that these are not sub
jects of legislation for the. reason that
tho national conventions and COM
mittees Of each party determine for
themselves how conventions shall be
constituted and how the delegates
thoreto shall be chosen personally
I have never believed that the pr.
mary law applies In any respect to
delegates to national conventions or
to any thing pertaining to the selec-
ton of such delegates. call this
matter to your attention not for the
purpose Of making recommendation,
but simply that you may determine
what, II any, consideration you may
care to give to it.
Abolish Printer and Binder.
In my opinion the time has come
when you should give the most seri-
GUS consideration to placing all state
printing and binding in the hands Of
the executive council. With the en-
larged facilities Of the various estab-
lishments of the state for doing the
work, there seems to be very little
need of continuing the Offices of state
printer and state binder. The coun.
Gil can very readily handle this work
through the Office Of the secretary,
who now has charge Of the paper
and other stock used and must keep
a constant check upon the same,
while the offlce Of the secretary Of
state must check all the work done.
The abolition of these offices of
printer and binder might necessitate
the employment Of competent man
to aid in looking after the work of
printing and binding, but even then
it would, in my opinion, prove great
saving to the state and the work
would be turned out much more