The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1912-07-04
Constitutiona|ity Of Primary Act
Is Questioned.
OLD METHODS OUT OF DATE
New Way Of Making Nominations
Puts the Political Machines
Out of Business.
Especial Correspondence

st. Paul, July 2.-Less than week
In the making, whipped into legal
shape by a committee with about four
working days to it's credit, and dis
cussed and passed by a body of men
many of them unfriendly to the entire
proceeding, the statewide primary law,
with its accompanying corrupt prac-
tees act, stands as the speediest bit
of important legislation in the history
OF Minnesota. Yet at that legal au-
thoritles who have studied the two
say the Minnesota law is wonder
and may be model for other states
who have the new order of things
political in mind. Unless it may be
the class feature their search as yet
has failed to locate anything unconsti-
tut1onal. They marvel at the whole
thing. With his force of assistants
sitting as a court Attorney General
Smith last week proceeded to delve
into the new law for the purpose of
finding any flaws, but if he located
any he has not since made the fact
public. He has talked Of possible
things, but he has refused to give
them sanction through the medium of
an official opinion. Perhaps the one
lone thing to call for court inquiry is
the class provision and though a test
OF this feature was suggested no one
as yet has had the nerve to come for
ward and announce himself as the
goat. The first to take advantage of
the provision were Judges Brill, Kelly
and Lewis of the Ramsey county dis
trlct court. In filing they took classes
one, two and three in order and in
doing SO eliminated any possibility of
rivalry. 1t is a case now of each one
against the field, with. other aspirants
compelled to pick the sitting Judge
against whom he will file. Opponents
OF the class idea say the provision
permits of combinations and elimi-
mates the free for all idea, but that
remains to be seen. The carrying out
OF the new law is going to cost the
taxpayers something, but if it works
out as claimed the investment will be
worth every dollar expended.
: The novel feature of the new pri-
mary law is the first and second
choice provision and gubernatorial
candidates especially are concerned
regarding the outcome in their case
Supporters of Governor Eberhart are
inclined to think that it will help him,
but they are not backward in saying
That as far as they are concerned
voters will be advised to express only
one choice. 1t is the field against the
governor, they hold, and the average
voter, though he may have a prefer
ence other than Governor Eberhart
for first choice, yet he will make him
the second pick. This, however, is a
game that can be worked both ways
L have bunch that all the candidates
will try and discourage the second
choice idea. 1t has made trouble in
North Dakota and because of the COM
pllcated features of the law there
many votes have been thrown out.
One candidate for the legislature who
filed while in st. Paul Monday said
he would advise his friends to drop
the second choice idea as far as the
Office he was after was concerned and
ne was certain that his friends would
IN turn advise others the same way.
He further believed that many, fear
ful of complicating their votes and
having them thrown out, would over
look the second choice scheme. In
the passing of the convention system
as 1t related to the making of nomina-
lions for state Offices old timers can
not put note with pity the complete
change in state Republican circles.
Gone with it, for the present at least.
Is the state machine and party har-
mony so often preached in the past.
Now it is everybody for himself and
the devil take the hindmost. While
the man in Office has the best of it
still he must hustle for No. 1. It is
no longer case of shoulder to shout
der and one good term deserves an
other. Hustle or you are lost is the
game now.
1t is rather ancient history, but I
suppose must be former
Attorney General E. T. Young's en-
trance into the Republican guberna-
torial ring. His hat struck the center
Of the ring a week ago and three days
later found him actively .vieing with
half dozen other candidates in hob
nobbing with the natives at Redwood
Falls on the occasion of the dedica-
ton of the new Alexander Ramsey
state park. Mr.. Young made one of
the dedication speeches. The story
here is that Mr.. Young may have the
BEST wishes of the Minneapolis Jour-
nal, which has been active in expos
Ing the alleged incompetency of Gov
ernor Eberhart and which to date has
refused to endorse any OF the other
gubernatorial candidates who aspire
to succeed him. Comment is also in
dulged in on the possible attitude the
st. Paul Dispatch may take regarding
the Young candidacy. He once sued
that publication for libel and while