The Odanah star. [volume] (Odanah, Ashland Co., Wis.) 1912-1916, 1915-04-16
ASK -FOUR CHANGES
IN STATE STATUTES
BILLS BEFORE THE WISCONSIN
LEGISLATURE WOULD ALTER
ELECTION LAWS.
RECOMMEND 2 FOR PASSAGE
Others Will Be Discussed at Hearing
to Be Held Soon-Would Change
Date for Holding Primary
Elections.

Date for Holding Primary
Elections.
Madison.-Four changes of consid-
cradle Importance are suggested by
bills in the legislature to revamp the
election laws of the state. Two OF
these measures have been recon-
mended for passage and the others
will be discussed at committee hear
ings to be held soon. The important
changes proposed are:
To change the date for holding the
primary election from the first Tues
day in September to the first Tuesday
in June.
To hold party convention in ad-
vance of the primaries. This measure
is aimed to give party solidarity.
To abolish the second choice law.
To repeal the law by which the
state mails pamphlet, containing
statement of candidates who pay the
| required sum, to- all voters Of the
state.
The last two measures have been
recommended for passage. One is
fathered by Senator Frank Hanson OF
Juneau county and the other by Sena-
| tor w. J. Bichler. Assemblyman W..
| J. Kay of Spring Valley is the author
| of the bill to hold the primary cleo
| ton three months earlier, and both
| Senator Bichler and Senator Bray
have bills for the holding Of party
convention in advance of the primary.
There are many other measures be-
fore the legislature affecting the cleo
ton laws, but they are generally con-
sidered of lesser importance. Assem-
blyman John B. Helm Of Madison is
the author Of bill which would per-
nit voting by mail. The measure is
almost an exact copy of the Mime
sofa statute on this subject. The an
nouncement has just been made by
Assemblyman H. s. Berninger, Mil
waukee, that he will introduce this
week a bill for majority elections for
Milwaukee county Offices and also for
nominees for congress and the legisla-
ture where the districts lie within
Milwaukee county. The measure re-
tains party designations and differs
| from the city nonpartisan plan In that
| the final contest must be between the
two parties polling the highest vote
in the primary, instead of between
the two highest individuals. 1t is
thought by Assemblyman Berninger
that this plan would result in the
nomination of a ticket more or less
evenly divided between Republicans
and Democrats, to oppose the Social
lists, as neither party would be able
to capture all the nominations. No
party would have complete ticket
in the field at the final election un-
less it made clean sweep by polling
the most votes for every office to be
filled. In this manner, Republican in
dorsement may be given to Demo-
Gratis winning nominations and Demo-
cratic Endorsement to Republican can
didates.
Bearing credentials signed by Gov.
E. L. Philip and resolutions Of the
Wisconsin legislature, patriotic orders
and the Chicago peace conference en-
dorsing the plan, Miss J. G. Wales,
author of the so-called Wisconsin
peace plan, sailed from New York
Tuesday on the Noorland as the wom-
an representative from Wisconsin to
attend The Hague conference. OF
the many plans of peace to be sug-
gested, the Wisconsin plan, as pre-
scented by it's author, will attract at
tention. She proposes conference
of the neutral powers to remain in
session to do all possible to end the
war. The plan has the approval Of
President David Starr Jordan and
other noted pacifists. 1t is popularity
known as mediation Without ARMS
| tice." The Hague conference which
Miss Wales goes to attend has been
land. Just before the legislature took
it's April election recess" it passed
resolution presented by Senator
Skogmo of River Falls approving the
peace plan, and a copy of the resolu-
ton signed by the presiding officer OF
SdCu uOuSO VI IuS lSSlSldtuIS anu ChO
governor was given to Miss Wales be-
fore she departed for New York. Miss
Wal has been an instructor of Eng
lish at the University of Wisconsin,
but was given leave of absence
City Clerk P. F. Leuch of Milwau-
kee has written letters to the common
councils of a number of Wisconsin
cities asking them to support the
amendment to the Baker law now
pending before the state senate, which
will legalize saloons disqualified by
the supreme court decision.
Wisconsin tncorporations.