Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1917-02-15

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when they adopted the primary cleo
ton law And this bill is the begin
ming of a general attack upon the prin-
zeiple of direct nominations ---s y
/ Would, Have Meant Defeat, Then
7"The Republican party would have
gone down to defeat had 1t announced
! through it's platform last fall that 1t
would make, an attack upon the prie
mary electien{law In the legislature
this winter. This matter came before
the committee on resolutions Of the
candidates convention but twas
withdrawn because the progressiyes.
Of the committee, including Attorney
General Owen and myself, withdrew
from the sessions Of the1 COMMITTEES
and began the preparation of mir
nOrity reports asa means of. carrying
the fight to- the floor of. the eonYen-
ton. A little later the conservatives
proposed that. &c I'VE would drop our
minority report they. would adrop out
the clause. referring to conventions.
This was agreed to, Governor Phillip.
reserving the right ito speaksfors a con
vention in the eampai gn, and / reserv-
ing the right to speak againstsa con-
vention. s. But IA all the accounts of
the governors speeches which read
found no word about the restoration
Of the convention, and so far as have
heard he did not discuss it in single
speech. Therefore, + say that this
bill is proposition, to do by stealth
that which the conservatives were
afraid to do openly.
'"There has been no request from
the people for such d bin. There has
been no petition from the people.
The primary election law was adopt
| ed by an overwhelming vote Of the
people. They have had no hint that
this legislature intended to restore
the convention system. And yet here
| is a bill, which is the beginning of
general attack upon the primary cleo
tion law"
Senator Bray disputed this state
! ment about what occurred in the com
mfttee. He said that the La Toilette
men wanted an endorsement of the
| senator by name and that it was final
ly agreed that Philip should be en-
dorsed and La Toilette not and that.
the minority platform should be aban-
ldoned. These statements were again
disputed by Lieutenant Governor Dith-
mar.
Senator Bray pointed to the absurd
| ity Of the people of the state electing
Senator La Toilette and Governor
Philip, men Of widely. different po-
litical beliefs, on the same ticket He
discussed at some length his PROPOSE
ton of allowing the convention to en-
dorse a. candidate and said there was
nothing In the provision that, was con-
trary to- the spirit Of the primary elec-
ton law. He said that such an en-
HOASOAACAAC WO0lO A1Ob 1OE0C1OS0 OLuSr
notwithstanding for the same Office,
n ses Claims Better Platform
That a platform would be adopted
which would more accurately repre-
sent the wishes Of the party If the
convention were held during the pri-
mary campaign in July, was the view
expressed by Senator Bray. He con-
tended that at the present time, when
the platform is adopted by the candi-
dates themselves that each has such
a personal interest as to resort to.
temporary expedients in order to catch
i the voters. He said that. it would
promote organization if the conven-
i tons were held during the primary.
He argued that political parties were
a necessity under the present form of
J government, and that such .conven-
tons would do away with the pre-
dominating OF . personal element in a
convention. .s.....~., -. ..ye $500
| {5s.1' ~ --s1-st.4 : s@%i@s