Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-01-16

I resolution originated in the House OF
Representatives. South Trlmble
| Clerk"
! have never opposed the election
CT United States senator's by direct
vote of the people, nor have l been
| convinced that such method of elec-
ton would remove all the abuses that
have been found to exist, or would
prove as popular as many seem to
think. If, however, the plan is to BE-
tried, let it be done in the proper
manner; that is, by amending the con
stitution Of the United States.
One Term in Office.
There is before the congress of the
United States a measure, the purpose
of which is to extend the term Of the
president of the United States to six
years and render him ineligible to
bucceed himself. am in favor Of
the adoption Of such measure, and
| in this connection I wish also to say
that in my judgment it would be
wise to amend our state constitution
% q to provide for . four year term
for the governor and render him in
elieibls to succeed himself, at least
without the intervention Of ono or
more terms.
Primary Elections and Short Ballot.
Again l want to suggest q modifi-
cation Of our primary election law,
not with any view to abandoning the
primary principle, but for the pur-
pose of simplifying the statute and
making it more effective as well as
more satisfactory.
cannot understand the process Of
reasoning by which men justify them
selves in advocating the primary elec-
ticn upon the theory that the people
should have the right to name each
and every candidate for a public Of
fee and at the same time favor the
enactment Of what is known as the
"short ballot" statute. The short
ballot conte=lplates the election OF
only few Of the more important Of
ficers and have them appoint all min
or officers and commissions.
What we should have done at first
and what we ought to do is to make
the primary applicable to United
States senators, governor and pos
sibly lieutenant governor, and name
candidates for the remaining state
offices in a convention composed Of
delegates selected at primary. There
is no need of the short ballot at cleo
ton time - we VIII reneve the .'ro-
pie of the responsibility Of making
nominations in the primaries where
1t is wholly impossible for them to
acquaint themselves with the various
candidates. The remedy ought to be
made as to the primary and not as
70 the general election. There never
has been a primary held in this state
but what the freaishness Of the sys-
tenn, as now applied, has been appar-
ent, ana a practical mon you ought
to so and the law ~ to make it
possible ior the people to do and do
intelligentl'' what is required of
them. Preserve the primary princi-
pie, but make the statute reasonable
and workabl so that it can be sue
eesstully ard intelligently applied.
Woman Suffrage.
For many years the subject OF ex-
tending to the women of the state
the right Of suffrage has been pron1i-
nent in the halls of our legislature.
Nine or ten states have already
adopted laws granting the privilege
of voting to women ss well as men.
It is one of the reform movements
which in my opinion will eventually
be adopted by most Of the states. l
doubt not that sooner or later it will
be submitted to the people OF our
own state in the form of an amend
ment to the constitution, and l can
see no, good reason why steps look
ing to that end should not be taken
by you. If it were possible to get
ANYTHING like universal expression
from the women as to their desires
with reference to it, should say let
them express themselves, but since
this seems imoracticable, I recon-
mend that you take such action as is
necessary to bring the matter before
the voters of the state for determin-
alton.
Preferential Primary.
In view of the uncertainties as to
what condition will confront US at the
time of s,!ecting delegates to the ma
tional conventions would suggest
that you adopt some method Of Sc
lecting delegates that will, If pos
sible, meet any condition that is like
w to exis,. This I believe can be
done by providing that a primary be
held throughout all Of the counties OF
the state, by all parties, upon the
same day and between the same hours.
Permit the voters of each party to
express their preference for presiden-
tial candidates and to elect delegates
from the entire state or from the
state and the congressional districts
u, l;-.,4 ,,r;vno ~ vote or tn elect