The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-03-07
THURSDAY. MARCH 7, 1912.
THE LORD PRIMARY BILL.

THE LORD PRIMARY BILL
II now looks as If the substitute
primary bill introduced By Rep. Lord
Of Detroit will be passed by the legis-
iature. in special session in place Of
the administrations presidential pref
erence measure. The Lord bin was
passed by the House yesterday by
vote Of 81 to 45, and it is believed it
viii receive favorable action in the
Senate. 1t is in the nature Of a COM
promise. as il has been evident for
some time that the administration bill
would fall by the wayside. it having
some features that were not popular
with some of the members. while 9TH
ers opposed il because its constitution
allty. II put into immediate effect was
questionable. To make the Lord bill,
II also passed by the Senate, effective
on June 10, as it provides, the legis-
lature viii have to adjourn this week
20 permit the necessary lapse Of nine
~ days as provided by the consutu-
ton.
A presidential preference clause is
included in the Lord bill. although it
does not give the people the privilege
Of directly electing the delegates to the
national conventions, as provided by
the administration bill Under the
Lord measure the delegates viii be
elected by state and district conven-
tions as in the past, and whether in
suucted or not they viii be expected
TO vote in accordance with the prefer
ence expressed at the primaries The
delegates will be morally. but not le-
gally, bound to carry out the wishes of
their constituents and in this respect
the primary will be not unlike that al
the advisory vote Of the people on SEN
atorial candidates In this state. In this
respect the presidential primary as
provided by the Lord bin may not be
as good as the administrations meas
ure. yet there will be no question Of
its constituuonality. If passed. and
after all it seems to be the best that
can be gotten out Of a very mixed
and uncertain situation.
The Lord bill will result in a say
ing TO the state inasmuch as it pro-
vides for the holding Of the August
primaries in June at the same time the
presidential preference vote is taken.
This will obviate the necessity OF a
special primary election for presiden-
tial preference Under the provisions
Of the act all state and county officers
Of all parties would be nominated in
June instead Of August. This would
shorten the campaign and make it less
expensive for the candidates for office
who are already at work.
In commenting on the Lord substi-
tute measure the Grand Rapids Herald
says, editorially:
IF any legislature. honestly lmpell-
ed, fear the constitutionality Of giving
presidential primary law immediate
effect Gas would be necessary in order
10 hold the primary April - despite
the attorney generals very clear opin-
ion on the subject and if there are
enough such Legislators to prevent ac-
tion on the original bill proposed from
the executive Office. there should un-
questionably be agreement 10 the pro-
posal for a June primary at which all
state officers shall be nominated by
direct vote. at which all that would or
dinarily be done in the August pri-
mary shall be transacted. and at which
time Michigan's delegates 10 the ma
tiOnal conventions shall receive their
instructions from the people.
This much can be truthfully said.
The nomination of state officers In
June-the holding OF the complete
August primary in June instead OF Au-
gust--will give ample time for pri-
mary wounds 90 heal: will afford long
er time for candidates Go become ac-
quainted with the voters Of the state
and for the voters to become acquaint-
ed with them; will allow the political
and electoral atmosphere TO settle"
between primary and election; and will
work more than one manifest benefit
III there must be compromise. GER