The Oskaloosa herald., 1911-01-12
NHAT'LL BECOME
Of THE PRIMARY
"A Bad Weed in the Political Gard
en- Patch Of Iowa."
BILLS PROVIDING AMENDMENT
Not Expected That This Session Of
the Legislature Will Repeal il,
as it Has Taken Consider
able Root--Take Time.

Des Moines, Jan. 11.-Special: The
reluctance with which insurgent re-
Dublicans wish to concede primary
election for selection of United
States senator gives additional proof
TO the fact that The primary is not
as popular as was anticipated when
it was placed ON the stature book a
it is being conceded by republicans
Of both factions and democrats, 100,
that the primary election law in Iowa
has been great force in party disor-
ganiZation. 1t is nos to be expected
however, that this legislature will
entirely repeal the primary law at
his session, as 1t has taken consider
able root and will require several
sessions of the legislature to success
fully eliminate what many chance
to term "a bad weed in the political
garden patch of Iowa." The chief
objection to the law is that it breaks
down party organization. A large
number of bills will be offered during
the present session providing amend
nents, but goodly share of these
will come from among the insurgent
forces.
Andrew c. Ripley, of Garner, Is
planning the introduction of bill
which he hopes will in some meas
ire correct the present party disor-
yanization, features of the present
aw Concerning the present law
Mr.. Ripley says:
"The trouble with the present pri-
nary law is that it gives no oppor-
unity for maintenance OF party or
sanization. There should be some
amendment that would require both
'epublicans and democrats 20 stay
n their own primary. Ii is misfor-
.,une that members of one party can
participate in the primary of another
)arty and then go to the election
POLLS and vote against the candidate
whom they have helped to nominate.
t puts one party at decided disad-
ranSage. During the present legisla.
ure hope to introduce bill such
Is ! hope will correct some of these
evils. The law should certainly be
amended so, that republican nomina
ions can be made only by republi-
ans. The success of our state de-
bends uon political organization and
We must do everything in our power
% encourage such organization
While that view is given by a
Prominent progressive member of the
rouse, ex-senator Jamison, a stalwart
epublican member of The Thirty
second general assembly senate re-
Gently said: The primary law as 1t
low stands is reflection upon the
Judgment of the people of Iowa. We
adopted a primary law so as TO give
he people an opportunity to disclose
heir judgment with respect to the
election of candidates for office.
vt the frs primary held it became
cry apparent that candidates for Of
ice who because of the alphabetical
arrangements of their names coming
lrst received she most votes. Then
We met again and saws to the peo-
rle NOW wen fool YOU" So we pro-
ided that the names of candidates
should rotate in order that each one
night secure an equal share of the
vote that went Unfortunately to
he frs man on the ticket. | think
The primary law has been a foolish
piece of legislation in Iowa. II is a
party disorganizer and | am firm
believer in the party spirit being a
great incentive to good government. f"