Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-01-10
PLAN TO MODIFY
PRIMARY SYSTEM
Democrat and Republican Politi-
clans Discuss Method by Which
it Might Be Done.
STATE OFFICERS BY CONVENTION
CFrom a staff corresp,ndentl

democrats and republicans at the state
house one day last week The opinion
of nearly every one was the primary has
been to say the least Disappointing.
Take for instance the present outlook
In the republican party in this state"
said a republican. ALREADY we have five
candidates for the republican nomination
for governor and probably one or more
may yet get into the fight. They may
all be good men personally, but there is
possibility that perhaps one or two of
them might not be just the material
needed at this time. Mind you I am call
ing no names, but in the selection of
candidate it is essential that the very best
man be selected for the position. In the
last election the republicans cast a little
over 10000 votes for governor. Suppose
that at the primary this year there are
about the same number of votes cast for
say the five candidates already in the
field and say for instance that they poll
about the same number Of votes each on
an average, 1t means that possibly 20,OOl
or 1900 voters may select the candidate
Our government was founded on the
broad principle that the majority should
rule, but in this case we see very small
minority selecting the party candidate
and it simply means that the fellow who
the most attractive way is likely to be
the candidate although his qualifications
may not be nearly as good as any of the
other candidates"
How to Deal with Problem.
But how are you going to get around
it?' answered another who happened to
be democrat THE people are so stuck
on the primary that it would be next to
impossible to repeal it and the man who
would come out with platform TO repeal
the primary wouldn't get to first base,
although I admit that it needs fixing up
about the worst way"
II would not repeal the primary" an
swered the first speaker. 81 have been
thinking over this matter great deal
the last year and II I were a member of
the next legislature I would introduce
bill about like this:
~ would repeal the statewide primary
so far as the selection Of state officers
is concerned. 1 would still have the
county primary, for generally the people
in county are pretty well acquainted
with their own candidates and can vote
pretty intelligently on their qualifications
TO hold office. l would have the primary
in the counties which selects the candi-
dates for county offices at the same time
elect delegates to a state convention. L
would have the delegates to which each
county is entitled elected by commission
distri<9 Cor instance.
''ThaA o. suppose that Richardson
county WNa entitled to seventeen repubh-
can 90 Assnocratic delegates. There are
three commissioner districts. I would
have each Of these districts elect rs
quota OF delegates according to the num-
Der It was entitled to according to the
same vote on which the number i'm the
convention was determined. the fractional
votes to be added and delegates at large
TO be elected by the whole county on the
number.
That is, If one district was entitled to
four votes and fraction, the next to five
and a fraction and the third to six and
p fraction, this would leave two dele
gates to be selected by the county at
large.
Come From People.
These delegates would come directly
from tho people and by being selected in
the primary by districts would distribute
them over the county and they would not
all come from the towns. These dele
gates could go TO a state convention and
be in a position to vote moro intellisently
on their qualifications than the average
voter could who went into the booth
knowing nothing about any of them and
compelled to cast a ballot, which to say
the least would be anything but an in
teigent vote
But this would give a chance for tie
ups. Just the same as we used to have, -
said another man.
IT admit that" said the first speaker.
but that would not necessarily mean
that a tie-up would mean a candidate
unqualified, would It.?
III the people of county had con-
fidence enough in you to send you down
10 the state convention as n delegate,
they ought to have confidence enough in
you to believe that YOU would be for the
best man for the office. even II tie-up
as you call it was necessary to land
him.
II admit that in the old days those
tie-ups were the result of packed con-
ventions. hut you want to remember
that when we inaugurated the anti-pass
law we took the corporations out of
politics and a convention today OF dele
, gates would not be composed OF men who
had ridden on railroad passes. but men
who had come direct from the people
and paid their own way showing that
they were, enough interested to do so.
Cites an Example.
II might call attention to a state Mat
form convention, which was held not 50
many years ago." he continued, iii
which the sentiment was very strongI,
for two Of the three candidates out a.
that time for governor. It was generally
conceded after the convention was ovel
that a certain one of those two would
have been nominated, because he would
more closely fit into the place lust a
that time. Yet short time after wheI
the primary was held the candidate. VIII,
would have stood no show whatever II
the convention was nominated and after
wards defeated at the regular election.
Another thing | like about the con
vention idea Is that after a fight hai
bec'i had in a convention in an opel
end honest manner as Is generally tn
case. the defeated candidates Llway
mount the platform and pledge thei
support TO the winner. Everybody ap
pears to be satisfied and you don SCI