The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-02
One Legislator Says He's After
It With an Axe.
RICH MANS GAME, he CLAIMS
Frank l.. Travis of Allen COun-
ty Makes His Plans.
Probable Bitter Fight Will Ap.
pear Before Legislature.

Frank L. Travis, representative
elect from Allen county. would repair
the Kansas primary law by smashing
1t with an ak. The lola man is or the
old school whose students believe the
primary as affecting state wide nomi-
nations is a failure, useless expense,
rich mans game, results too often in
the nomination of weak candidates to
important offices and destroys party
organization. So Travis will come to
Topeka with a bill to repeal the state
wide primary act.
For many months there has been a
growing sentiment In Kansas that the
primary election law was not all that
was advertised. Adopted by the Kan
sas voters as a reform that would cure
the iniquities Of the convention sys-
tern, many political leaders OF both
parties have in the Aast rev years
come to the conviction that the law
at least needed repairs. score OF
remedies have been suggested. some
political observers have suggested a
pre-convention provision that would
permit a gathering OF the leaders 10
draft a platform in advance OF the
primaries. Others have suggested
cuss candidates and platform planks.
Rich Mans Game.
Travis, though. is the first legisla-
tor to openly declare that the only
remedy is the repeal Of the law.
THE kindest thing that can be said
for the state wide primary is that 1t
has not been all that its friends ex-
pected of It," said Travis. In my
Judgment, the law has been far less
than that. 1t has been rich man S
game from the start. 1t has called
for wild extravagance on the part
of candidates, the ownership, control
or support Of publications of wide cir
culation and in case of a contest for
the nomination, a double expense TOT
election. But the trouble hasn't
stopped there. Under the primary,
party organization has been destroyed
and there is no opportunity to iron
out differences within the party. Inc
only relief in sight, SO far as can
see. is the repeal Of the law. 1t Is for
that reason that I have concluded to
introduce a bill for the repeal of the
act
Means Bitter Fight
If Travis refuses to be reconciled to
the primary law, it is quite probable
that his bill will pave the way to one
of the most bitter fights in the coming
legislative session. A number of the
legislative members are tried, true and
trusted friends of the law. They be-
lieve that tie people can be trusted in
the nomination Of all candidates from
township road OVorSeer TO Onlteu
States senator and want the law left
as it is, except perhaps few minor
changes. Some of the members of the
1915 session were members of the legis-
lature which enacted the law and still
have firm faith in it's provisions.
The Kansas primary law was given
its first test in 1908 when w. r. Stubs
was first nominated for governor and
when Joseph L. Bristow won the Unit
ed States senatorial nomination from
Chester I. Long. Under the original
provisions in the law, the legislative
contest in the primary was determined
by Legislative districts. The 1913 lesis-
lature amended the law to provide for
the nomination of United States sena
tors by plurality vote. In 1912. both
Charles Curtis, Republican, and Hugh
p. Farrelly. Democrat. received plural
tiles over their opponents but were de-
feated for the nominations because OF
failure to win a majority of the 165
legislative districts.
Travis. who proposes the repeal of
the law. was q member of the state
senate from the Allen-Woodson coun-
ty district in 1909-11. With his name
last on the roll call of the senate, he
cast the vote in 1911 which submitted
the equal suffrage amendment after
the resolution had passed the house
Travis was recently elected to the low
er branch OF the state legislature by
the Republicans of Allen county.