New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1917-03-14
PRIMARY LAWS DUE
FOR MANY CHANGES
SENTIMENT IN STATE DEMANDS
A REVISION OF ELECTION :
STATUTES.
LAST DAY FOR INTRODUCTION
OF BILLS IN LEGISLATURE
ARRIVES.

From legislative circles in St. Paul
there comes almost positive assurance
that there is to be some radical
changes in the election laws during the
present session.
Sentiment, it is claimed, comes from
every part of the state for some change
that will return to definite party re-
sponsibility, and the Legislature is very
likely to take heed of the demands of the
people. ....-
Members of the elections committee
of both House and Senate are said to be
anxious to pass such a bill. That it will
be put thru is the confident expectation
of leaders in both branches.
The Senate has made the Rustad bill,
providing for patty conventions pre-
ceding the regular primaries, a special
order of business for Friday at 2 p. m.
Four Bills Before Committee
The House elections committee, with
four bills before it, will meet Wednesday
or Thursday to whip some measure into
shape.
There has been a growing sentiment
for the so-called Odland bill which would
provide for the selection of nominees for
United States senator, governor and all
other state offices by conventions. The
bill was introduced in the House by
Representatives Ahipstead, Indrehus and
Odland. .
Democrats and Republicans alike
have been seeking some modification
in the primary election laws. Papers
OF both parties thruout the state have
joined in demanding a change. 81. 81
, Fhe St. Cloud Times, one Of the
strongest Democratic dailies in the state,
in an editorial devoted to the Odland
bill, points out that the measure is aimed
at preventing every "Tom, Dick and
Harry from forcing himself upon the
people as candidate as did ''Tom"
Dwyer, Democratic nominee for COVER
nor, at the last election.
Last Day for New Bills.
This is the last day for the introduction
of bills. About thousand bills have so
far been introduced in the house and
about eight hundred in the senate. This
is a much larger number than was in
troduced during the first ten weeks of the
session of 1915 and more, perhaps, than
was ever introduced during the same
period by Minnesota legislature. Also
much larger number of bills have been
passed during the first ten weeks this
winter then has been the case in former
sessions, all of which goes to prove that
the present legislature is an industrious
bunch, whatever other failings it may
have. -.
Prohibition Bill Killed
Another surprise last week was the
big majority against the statutory pro-
hibition bill in the house. Ever since
the bill was introduced it was believed
by the dry leaders that the house would
send it over to the senate to be killed
there, but it developed that almost half
of the representatives who voted for the
constitutional prohibition bill would
not stand for the statutory brand of
prohibition. They reasoned that it would
be illogical to submit the prohibition
question to the people and at the same
time pass a statutory bill They felt
that Senator J. D. Sullivan hit the nail
on the head when he said that such
procedure would be like submitting a
case to jury and then withdrawing it
before the jury could act.
The boxing law enacted in 1915 will I
remain in force at least two years more,
for the senate has killed the Sageng bill
which sought to wipe it off the statute
books. This action was a surprise to
ever so many, for popular sentiment
seemed to be against professional boxing.
Some OF the best men in the senate felt. |
however, that the lovers of boxing in the
twin cities might as we'll witness matches
at home as to see them at Hudson, Wis.
Absent Voters May Vote
The absent voters bill, fathered by
Senator w. A. Campbell of Minneapolis.
has passed both houses It provides that
Minnesota voter can vote. by mail
from anywhere in the United States, and
its author maintains that at least 25, 900
will take advantage Of this privilege at
the next election. Senator Campbell is
a travelling salesman who has been great
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