The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-02-08
MAY CALL SPECIAL SESSION.


A special session OF the legislature
10 pass presidential primary law Is
more than possible. II is entirely prob
able. The remarks OF Governor os-
born make il seem most certain. al
though he adds he has not yet made un
his mind definitely on the subject
This is what he says:
Il win tell YOU frankly that / do no;
know whether I shall call a special ses-
sion or not There Is real demand
for the presidential primary on the
part OF the Roosevelt Republicans and
the Harmon Democrats. l have at Ian
sing petitions signed by more than
10000 people OF Michigan demanding
the call and the presidential primary.
The entire State Grange is for il. The
petitions come from lodges and all
sorts Of organizations as well as from
individuals.
you know 1 believe most thorough
ly in popular government. believe in
the presidential primary. believe we
ought 10 have it. We cannot put it
into operation for four years il we
wait for a regular session Of the leg
islature II we have a special session
We can have the presidential primary
right now. thi7 spring.
THAT sO-day feature of the consti-
tuition makes no difference. II D. C. F.
Warner can give bill TO change the
name Of a town immediate effect. can
see no reason why We could not give
immediate effect to the presidential
primary bill. II is up to the legisla-
ture 20 decide these matters anyway
and they would have fun power to give
the bill immediate effect.
If l for one moment thought the
calling Of a special session for this
purpose would in any way help me
personally I should not call it. If it
win injure me personally do not care.
1T doesn't matter to me what the
Senate might do with such a bill. That
would be up to them. II they turned
the~bill down for the sake Of getting
back at me, it would be up to them
only TO answer to the people who send
them down here. 1t would be worth
something, perhaps. TO impress upon
the minds OF the people what some
legislators can do for political pur-
poses.
The cost Of the special session
should hardly be considered when
there is real demand for it. It viii
cost the people about two cents each,
the price Of a postage stamp, to have
this special session called and enact
this bill"
Thus it is manifest Governor Os-
born is leaning very strongly toward
the special session and the enactment
Of a presidential primary bill. The
call Of course would have in IT the
usual clause, and such other matters
as may properly come before it," This
would give an opportunity for all those
other matters which are being urged
to be brought in These matters in
clude the employees compensation
act the taxation bill, the redistricting
Of the state in congressional districts
and the initiative. referendum and re-
call. II might also give an opportuni-
~ to correct some Of those bills passed
by the legislature that have been found
badly written ana therefore meaning
Less, such as that which makes it
necessary for an attorney to have
been disbarred in order to now be in
5ood standing. This error came
through the use Of the double negative
and there are several other similar in
stances which somebody would almost
certainly try to correct should an OPP
portunity be given.