The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-05-31
state G.O.P.LEADERS
REJECT SECOND CHOICE

St. Paul, May 28.-The republican
state central committee has rescind
ed the call for the state nominating
convention set for July 2. and fol-
the county conventions set for June
%. This is the first convention call
ever set aside in the state, so faI
as known, and marks the passing
of the old-time state convention. Ac
ton was unanimous, in view of the
extra session of the legislature call
ed by Governor A. o. Eberhart to
pass a statewide primary law.
The committee spent an hour and
half in debate over various pri
mary plans, chiefly on the second
choice feature, which was urged by
anti-administration members. This
resolution by G. H. Sullivan of Still
water finally was adopted:
Resolved, that we favor direct
primary law for nomination of all
state officers and request that the
legislature enact such law as
speedily as possible"
Frown On Second Choice Plan.
An amendment by James A. Lar
son, supported by Kay Todd of St
Paul, Fred Sherman and ]. r. Nor
ley of OwatOnna, was voted down
1t read as follows:
Whereas, this committee recog
nizes that the enactment of any law
or the application of any rule where
by nominations to any state office
be in opposition to the will of the
people, therefore, be it
Resolved, that this committee
representing the republican party OF
this state, declares itself to be unal
terably in favor of the enactment OF
such primary election law and the
enforcement of such rules and regu
lations as shall give the people the
right to express both their first and
second choice as to all candidates
for state office"
A. D. Stephens Pleads For Plan.
A. d. Stephens of Crookston plead
for his plan of non-partisan pri
mary, free for all, the two highest
candidates to go on the general cleo
ton ballot. He found supporter
in Joseph Chapman. Jr., of Min
neapolis, who said that the Stephens
plan was the only one he had seen
| for a pactical working out of the
primary. 1t was not urged to a vote
however.
Kay Todd of St. Paul began the
proceedings by offering resolution
providing that in case the legisla
ture fails to pass a primary law by
June %, the state committee, through
county chairman, should urge the
taking of a preferential vote on gov
ernor. After considerable debate
this was rejected, 3 to 16. S. B. Will
son of Mankato said he could not
conceive the possibility of the leg
islature failing to ;! pass primary
law, and it was generally agreed
that the call must be rescinded, to
be renewed later if necessary.
Preus Was Favorable.
In the debate over the second
choice proposition, all state admins
tration members lined up against il
save ]. "A. o. Preus, who said that
he favored a second and possibly :. a
third choice proposition, but did not
think it was the committees place
to recommend details of the law.
Those who have been talking
about the people ruling" said A. D.
Stephens, ARE the ones who are
now manipulating this thing so as
to give the people what they don't
want"
There has been talk about axes
to grind" said Kay Todd, 81 have
an axe to grind, and it is the cleo
ton of our ticket at the polls"
do you consider it more impor
tant to elect our ticket next fall
than to save the republican party!
asked Joseph Chapman, Jr.
Danger of Wrecking Party.
There is danger that we will lose
the election and wreck the republic
an party, too,' said Mr.. Todd. Mr.
Chapman declared that the way the
primary works in Minneapolis 1T has
destroyed party lines, and to get
real majority rule the people should
adopt the non-partisan plan OF Mr
Stephens. F.. E. Wade of Fairmont
talked in favor of getting primary
election votes by mail.
Alex James, assistant attorney gen
eral, T. c. Collins of Window and
others spoke against taking "hasty
action on the second-choice prop
osition. A. d. Stephens motion to
lay the resolutions on the table lost,
9 to 10. The Larson amendment then
was voted down viva voce, and the
Sullivan resolution was adopted In
the same way. There were twenty
one members of the committee at
the session, which was held at the
Hotel Saint Paul.