The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1915-04-15
CONVENTIONS ARE
TO BE LOCALIZED
EVEN LEGISLATORS ARE TIRING
OF STATES MAKE-SHIFT
ELECTION LAWS.
FREE HOG CHOLERA SERUM
BILL PASSES AND
INLAND SALOONS ARE
APT TO GO.
Especial to Sank Centre Herald.)

Especial to Sank Centre Herald.)
St. Paul, April 1.-THE Senate
has sanctioned the "elimination" con-
vention.
This child of Republican parentage
will be officially recognized in Mime
sofa if the Rustad-Rockne bill be-
comes law. The measure passed the
Senate and now it goes to the House.
1t will not find easy sailing in the
lower branch according to gossip
about the state house. That tinkering
with the primary law would be
attempted at this session was ex-
pected. The Rustad-Rockne measure
does it. AS the measure is of great
interest to every voter, discussion of
its provisions seems timely.
The bill would allow party organ
izations to call conventions before the
primary for the purpose of adopting
party platforms and naming candi-
dates for state offices. The names so
Endorsed would 60 on the primary bal
lot with those of others who file. Sup
porters Of the measure say that it is
not an attack on the primary law, but
is intended to legalize conventions
that would be held illegally anyway.
1t would allow parties to adopt plat
forms and have candidates pledge
themselves to certain issues.
The objection to the primary law
has been, as has been heard on all
sides during discussion of the law,
that it allows anybody to file and min
imizes the chance of getting out the
best men for candidates.
The convention scheme, if it passes,
will work favorably for the Republi-
can party. The experience of 1914 in
G. o. P. ranks will demonstsate this.
Where there is large field of capdi-
dates before the primaries the new
proposed law will allow them to get
together In years to come there
might not be a chance for an agree
ment such as made William E. Lee,
a candidate last year. Every candi-
date might want to stay in the race
and not allow but two men to repre-
sent the party at the primary. This
condition wound split the Republican
vote and might lead to internal diff
ficulties with the result that the Dem
ocrats would have easy sailing at the
general election. H..
Indications this week are that the
people will again be given an oppor-
tunity to say whether they wish di-
rect voice in the making of our laws.
The bill for a constitutional amend
ment providing for the initiative and
referendum has passed both branches.
Amendments tackled onto the measure
in the Senate will necessitate it's be-
ing sent back to the House, where it
is expected concurrence will be had.
The initiative and referendum was
Amendment No. before the voters
at the November election. While it
occupied the most prominent place on
the pink ballot it mustered but 1885,
004 affirmative votes. 1t needed 49,
ASP to pass; that number being a ma
jority of all ballots.
Hog serum will be distributed from
the Farm School to farmers free of
cost under the Bendixen bill signed
by Governor Hammond. The battle
with hog cholera has come to be rec
ognized as fight to be looked for
ward to each year. 1t is probable that
the Legislature hereafter will appro-
Continued on page eighty