The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1912-06-11

y
three measures demanded BY the
people of this state. to-wit:
! L. Al statewide direct primary
law for the nomination of all elective
public officials, national and state
-. Al stringent and effective cer-
rupt practices act. applicable both to
/ the nomination and election Of all
public officials.
g. A reapportionment of the
Legislative districts as required by
and in accordance with the constitu-
tion of the state.
Those three measures were fully
considered by you at your last ses-
sion and you are, therefore, thor
oughly familiar with the subject
matter of each. Hence. no elabor-
ate nor detailed discussion of them
is required of me.
Direct Primary Law
Minnesota has been a pioneer IN
4
the enactment of direct primary leg
islation. The first step was taken in
1899. when a direct primary law was
enacted for Hennepin county.
At the following session 1901
this law was amended in some parti-
culars. extended to the whole state
and included all positions except
state officers and certain minor Off
Gals. Since that date it has gov
erned our political action in making
party nominations of office.
Tried by more than 10 years of
actual experience in this state, the
direct primary law hasso established
itself in the judgment andconyictions
of the people that no aspirant for
public favor would have the hardi-
hood to propose its repeal. Itsimply
substitutes the direct action of the
people themselves for the system of
delegated authority exemplified in
conventions. it makes public officials
directly responsible to the people and
it makes the people directly respons-
ible for the selection Of their repre-
sentatives- 1t eliminates the domi-
nation of special interests by placing
the people-who are the source Of
all political power in direct control.
People Demand More Power
1.-The insistent demand Of the peo-
pie for the right of direct and I'M
hindered participation in all matters
of government is attested by their
answering support Of the existing
direct primary law and by the pass
age at your last session of law for
the direct nomination and practically
direct election of United States sena-
tors. The recent action Of the con-
gress Of the United States in pro-
posing an amendment to the federal
constitution providing for the cleo
ton of United States senator's dir
ectly by the people is a further proof
of the settled purpose of the people
to exercise their political power d.
rectly and not through representa-
tive bodies.
Under the constitution you are
the lawmaking power Of this state,
and it is primarily your right and
duty to determine what the law shall
be, and in reaching that determine
ton it is for you to consider the var
ious details of the proposed legisla-
ton. Whether or not the direct
primary law shall be non-partisan,
what provisions it shall contain as to
second choice, just how it shall be
applied to the selection of delegates
to national conventions and many
other questions of detail which will
arise in the consideration of this
measure. are for you to primarily
determine and it is.not my purpose
to suggest any particular plan of
direct primary. but confidently rely
ing on your wisdom and patriotism.
/ earnestly recommend the prompt
passage of law providing for the
nomination of all public officials by a
direct vote of the people.
Corrupt Practices Law
To pass a direct primary law
without enacting a stringent and eff
fective corrupt practices act would
be to merely adopt the nomenclature
of reform and reject the reform it
self. The present law on the sub
|