Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-07-25
IOWA VOTERS AND
THE PRIMARY LAW
Answers of Republican County
Chairmen Indicate Dissatis-
faction With the System.
MANY FAVOR AMENDMENT

Des Moines, Ia, July 24.-(Special)
In order to ascertain the sentiment
over the state on the primary law,
Charles A. Rawson, chairman of the
republican state central committee.
recently sent out list of questions
on the primary and the attitude of
the voters toward it, to all county
chairmen The replies indicate con-
siderable dissatisfaction with the pri-
mary law.
The first question asked was:
would like your opinion as how the
voters i'll your county are satisfied
with the present primary law"
To this eight counties replied the
voters were satisfied with it and fifty
one replied they were not.
The next question was: Would
the voters want the present law re-
pealed and go back to the convention
nominations again. From twenty
six counties the reply was that the
voters would favor the repeal entirely
and twenty-eight replied they would
favor notifications in the law.
The next question asked was:
What changes can you suggest for
the better working of the present
law" To this there were a variety
of answers. Among them the fol-
lowing.
GO back to the convention system
for state officers"
Fault With Voters.
LET the law alone and educate the
voter. The fault is with the voter"
Hold county and state conventions
as we used to"
Cut out red tape in county pri-
maries. Our primaries are held too
early. They should be held when it
is time to open the campaign and les
son the expense of the primary and OF.
the candidates"
Resolutions were passed Cat coun-
ty convention) recommending that
that next legislature enact a law re-
turning to modified form of old con-
vention system"
Nominate governor, United States
senator, congressman and county Off
GERS at primary and also delegates
to the state convention. Nominate all
other officers by convention.
State Nomination by Convention.
Hold primary for county. Con-
vention for state nominations"
"If we should now return to dele
gate system believe the average
voter would complain that he had
lost some of his former privileges"
"Re-enact the primary law so as to
make it optional with the counties"
Hold presidential and June prima-
ries at the same time"
81 think if state officers were chos-
Ell at state convention and county
officers at primary the proper result
would be attained"
Intelligent and fair-minded voters
are not satisfied"
IF present law is continued some
way should be found to keep the
democrats from helping the repub-
licans nominate candidates"
Keep the law for governor"
Simplify it."
Delegates to county conventions
are fixed in the back rooms and the
law does no good"
Abolish the presidential preference
primary and change the June pri-
mary to September"
Repeal of all parts Of the law ex-
cept such as relate to the higher Off
GERS of the ticket appears to be the
most popular remedy according to
the replies received. Several chair
men stated frankly that the law was
satisfactory to the voters, but was a
thorn in the side of the politicians.
As is shown by the replies above,
many think it is all right for county
offices and for delegates to the state
but not for state officers.