The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1914-05-23

les on my administration. They de-
nounced the convention system and by
resolution demanded a direct primary
on the governorship. To the surprise
OF some of the promoters of this reso-
luton, | Immediately announced that
would convene the legislature in
extra session for the purpose of enact
| ing direct primary law. I believed
then, and believe now, that no man
should be afraid to submit his candi-
dacy directly to the people, and that
any man, who so far distrusts the peo-
pie as to spend much time and large
sums Of money in getting up pretend
ed mass conventions to dictate to the
people whom they shall select, is
wholly unfit for the Office of governor.
The legislature met in extra session
IN June, 1912, and enacted a direct
primary law. Under that law | be-
came a candidate for governor and
| again received a. strong endorsement
! at the general election in November.
No one will dispute the fact that /
am largely responsible for the direct
primary law in Minnesota. It was re-
luctantly passed by a legislature
| openly hostile to me and in the law
itself were inserted provisions with
the declared purpose of defeating me.
All this is recent and familiar history.
but L call your attention to the pri-
mary law at this time because it is
the settled purpose of certain politi-
clans in this state to repeal it. The
hrst step in the program to repeal is
to dlscredit the law. Hence we have
the conferences and mass conventions
called by a few disappointed politi-
clans, ostensibly in the interest of the
people, but in fact to advance the SELF
ish interests of few.
II unsuccessful in the repeal of the
primary law itself, the plan is to
amend it so that the people shall not
be permitted to act on nominations
until some self-constituted conven-
ton has determined whom the people
shall have right to support
The people of this state have en-
phatically approved the statewide
primary law and they will not vote
for men who are secretly scheming
to repeal it. Few of these conspira-
tors have the courage to openly advo-
cate the repeal of the primary law,
but actions speak louder than words. |
They have pledged themselves to
amend the law in various ways, and
If the people are not alert, it will be
amended to death. A man with a
long purse can get up mass conven-
ton for any purpose. There is no law
restricting the use of funds therefor.
lie can spend 100000 in framing up
county and state mass conventions
and In paying hotel and travelling ex-
penses of delegates.
There is no law controlling the OK.
penditures for such purposes. A man !
can spend 100000 in entertaining and
persuading the delegates to such a
gathering without subjecting himself
to any legal penalty. Such a candi. |
date, bearing the Endorsement of such
convention, is therefore unworthy
of support.
l hold the Office of governor today,
not because am the choice of a
convention of defeated Of
tice-seekers, but by the direct vote of
the people at the primary and regular
elections. Our system of government
guarantees to the people the right to
elect their own officials. The right to
nominate is just as important as the |
right to elect and as long as I am gov.
ernor I shall oppose every effort to
destroy the direct primary law.
1t is therefore of utmost importance |