The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-01-09
Harry Larimer Boldly Tells
Lady Political Club.
COULDN'T AGREE. on PlRTY
Science Organization Did Not
Form Female Corps.
Primary NOn-Partisan Ballot
Vote Was an Even Break.

Political Science club dished up for
their feast of reason Friday, the pri-
mary election law. They invited Har-
ry Larimer to make an address. Their
choice OF speaker was determined
by the fact that Mr.. Larimer had stud
led the primary laws, was sent to Wis
cOnsin to investigate their statute, and
then wrote the law that was passed
for Kansas. 1t seems that there is a
threat to repeal the primary law. and
Mr.. Larimer has risen In defense OF
his pet child. this law which he be-
lieves can be improved by being
amended, but should not be Destroy
ed, root and branch.
He began his speech by a review of
the old methods of choosing candi-
dates, and explained how his law did
away with the boss system. He cited
the objections that had been urged
against his law and answered them in
turn. He suggested as an amendment
a provision that would make the ex-
penses of an aspirant to office light
err. His plan is to compel the would
be candidate to file with his petition
a certain fixed amount of money to
be used in advertising and to pay 9TH
er expenses of his campaign. The
amount of newspaper space. he thinks,
should be fixed; that space to be filled
as the candidate chooses. He also
suggested that perhaps smaller per
cent of names required for the petit
ton than three per cent OF the voters,
might be advisable.
Following his address, the women
did what some one of their number
has done at nearly every political
melting they have had since their en-
franchisement-argu against party
sentiment. They asked for a non-par-
tisan primary ballot. Mrs. Frank Dos
ter spoke first. 'tAll of the political
parties are adopting measures of re-
form, and when we read them over
they sound to us very much alike.
What we want is the chance to choose
| out of all the parties the men who will
serve us best and keep their pledges
Women care very little about parties,
and the men. too, are coming to care
much less than they used to about
| political organizations. Why not have
our officers elected as we do the city
| officers
Form Own Party.
Mr.. Larimer explained that union
mad organization was necessary for
any effective action in politics, as it
was in anything else. Mrs. White. one
| of the members, thereupon declared
form their own party, put in power
the men or women that they Believed
would make the best officers, and she
explained how the women of New
success.
Her remarks were followed by a
general move of half a. dozen women
to get the floor. Mrs. w. A. Johnston
spoke in reply. I'VE do not, I am
sure, want q woman's party. We
should work with the men who are
trying as hard as we are to get good
laws and good officers. We have
faith in the men and we want to vote
with Them
Mrs. DeWitte C. Nellis spoke in ia
vor Of the Republican party, disclaim-
ed any hope that that women would
form a separate party, and said that
she thought the women Of the meet
ing were not vet prepared to decide
on whether or not they wanted a nom
partisan ballot.
Mr.. Larimer argued that the wom-
en- should not be afraid of party or
ganization, and that the principle they
voted for was a greater consideration
than the man. He frankly told them,
too, that they did not have a monop-
oily on purity, honesty and good in
tentions
Mrs. Doster made a motion that the
club endorse an amendment to the
primary law, by which the primary
ballot should be nonpartisan. The
vote was a tie and the resolution dis
missed.
Previous to the discussion, a parlia-
mentary drill and drill on the clubs
textbook, the Voters Manual, was
held