The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-12-20
KERRY CONLEY WOULD
CUT OUT the PRIMARY
New Election Law Proposed BY
Rochester Man, - -;
LESSEN EXPENSE TO PEOPLE
Number Of Features That Are lncorpo'
rated in Bill That He Has
Had Drafted.
LESSEN EXPENSE TO PEOPLE

Rochester,, December ia new
election law, different from any in
any state in the Union, having for
it's main object the elimination of
the Objectionable features of pri-
mary, the shortening of the ballot
and the saving of money to the
state, may be introduced at the
next session Of the legislature, by
Representative Kerry E. Conley,
Omsted county.
Mr.. Conley would embody in his
measure the elimination of one cleo.
ton by holding the primary and
general elections as one.
Cut Out the Primary.
The main feature of his proposed
mary entirely and the re-establish.
ment of the party convention to
nominate state officers. Instead of
the party caucus, he proposed elect
ing electors by the voters of each
district. The most possible method
of doing this, Mr.. Conley says. is to
ahve party electors placed on the
ballots of the spring, township and
municipal elections.
In order to eliminate the present
primary for county offices, Mr. Con.
ley suggests that all senators, repre-
sentatives and candidates for county
Offices file by petition, each desig'
mating his party affiliation, and that
in order to file each candidate must
secure a certain humber of bona
fide individual certificates.
Would Have Recall.
The names of all candidates, who
have complied with the requirements,
should be placed on one ballot with
their party affiliation designated,
The first and second choice features
could be Incorporated and the candi'
dates, receiving the majority OF all
votes cast under the first and sec
ond choice principle, should be de-
clared elected. Mr.. Conley also pao.
poses to incorporate the recall in
his bill.
Speaking Of his proposed meas
ure, Mr.. Conieys said: 81 believe
Minnesota's first state wide primary
failed in it's purpose.
Elections Too Expensive.
Under his system the state has an
expensive, double-barrelled election
mary ballot is long and with the
large number of candidates seeking
the many offices in county and state,
the voter has little time to pay at.
tention to each individual office and
the merits of each candidate.
"By such a measure the entire
election could be accomplished by
just one election, without the unde-
sirable caucus or the expensive pri-
mary and would affect an enormous
saving of money and time"
County Nomination Plan.
In order to eliminate the present
primary for county offices which is
burden to the state as we'll as the
candidate. Mr. Conley suggests that
all senators, representatives and
candidates for county offices file by
petition, each designating his party
utilization, and that in order to file
each candidate must secure fifty or
whatever number may be consider
ed, bona fide individual certificates,
and the regular filing fee be paid.
The names of all candidates, who
have complied with the require,
ments, should be placed on one
ballot with their party utilization
designated The first and second
choice features could be incorpOr-
ated and the candidates receiving
the majority of all votes cast under
the first and second choice princi-
pie should be declared the elected.
The filing period should be during
the months of July and August.