The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-01-11
CT ,ARkE CONDEMNS THE
DIRECT PRIMARY LAW

the demagogue to gaip judg eship. 1t
may easily lead eventually to the loss
! of fitness, ability and courage on
| the bench.
This law ought to be repealed. The
office of Judge should be appointive.
| 1t Is So In every country on earth burt
Switzerland and the United States,
and is 30 in eight of our states.
While there may be and have been
abuse under every system, the oppor-
tunity and temptation ought to be
made as difficult as possible The trou-
BILE with the old caucus system which
naturally aroused public Indignation
was that 1t was not born OF the law
and was subjected to no regulations.
Is it not possible to devise method
of party procedure and government
that will realize the distinctive pur-
poses and genius of our form Of gov
eminent? 1t has not been done yet In
its best sense. That Is the question
for this Legislature Once a believer
in the direct primary. experience and
reflection have forced me to the con-
clusion already expressed. My inter
est in the progress and the future good
government of this commonwealth
forces me to recommend its repeal.
Not an attempt to patch it up, for that
would be unsatisfactory, but to start
on new basis.
Suggests Remedy.
I would like to see Iowa assume
leadership back to true, popular rep
resentative government This legisla-
ture should provide a law for q pr1-
mary In the township or primary
where all the voters can have direct
vote, at which all candidates fer town
ship or precinct offices could be nomi-
mated and, if deemed best. county Of
icers. At this primary election dele
gates to the county convention and
alternates could be selected and their
election properly certified to the coun-
ty convention. For this primary the
law should fix day for all parties uni
form throughout. the state. strictly reg
MATED az to notice, time CT opening and
closing, method of selecting Judges
and clerks. the right to participate
providing. perhaps, that ten days be-
fore the voter should declare his party
utilization and that having once voted
at primary and thus fixed his party
Affiliations he could not vote in any
other unless thirty days prior he had
filed a declaration under~s oath OF
change of party affiliation; and pro.
vidings also that no name of candi-
date Of one party could be written.
printed or pasted upon the ballot OF
author under penalty Of rejection OF
the ballot; and providing also the
ratio OF representation in the selection
Iof delegates to the county convention.
fixing the date Of such convention and
its time Of meeting, uniform through
out the state, to nominate omcefs. If
not nominated at the township and
precinct primary. and to nominate
state representatives and. to select
delegates and aiternates 10 the state
convention and fixing the time foI
holding It and declaring the ratio OF
representation to all these conventions
T;i.. delegates to all these conventions
should be properly certified and be re
auired to attend and no promises
should be permitted. In the case Of
( absence or inability to attend on the
part OF a delegate and alternate to take
his place, the law fixing the order IL
which alternates would be permitted
/ to take the place Of regular delegates
and no other persons should have any
voice or vote in any convention. The
law also provides that these delegates
and alternates should be regarded al
officers. their tenure being from time
of their election until the next election
OF delegates. So that In the event o.
need any convention could be re-as
sembled on notice and another cam
paign and expense avoided. unde,
this kind Of legalized procedure It 1!
lard TO see how there could be any
Iof the old time manipulations, sharI
practices and packing OF caucuses ant
conventions and. In my 1udsment. Il
should be worked out and the principle
and purpose developed as your com
hined wisdom may dictate. The Iegis
ilative branch Of the government shoult
be made as tsrong as possible, be
cause its power is unlimited, and be
lieve its candidates should be careful
ly selected by delegate convention.
Another consideration. slight how
ever, in comparison with the reasons
already given why the laws referred
to should be repealed is the cost Of
the elections In Iowa.