The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-12
First Blow at Election System
Registered in House.
Planned to Force Roll Call of
1917 Legislature.
MACK OF HARVEY A REFORMER
State Construction of Hard Sur
face Roads Is Asked.
Constitutional Convention Also
on List of Requests.

The first move before the state leg
islature for repeal of the statewide
primary law was made today in bill
introduced in the house by r. M. No
BILE of Labette county. In his bill,
Noble provides for the absolute repeal
of the primary law. 1t is Mobiles plan
to force a roll call on the primary law
at this session of the legislature.
Introduction of the Noble bill fol
lowed the recent publication of a BIZ
ennial report by j. T. Botkin, secre-
tarye of state, in which he recon-
n4ended "a return to the convention
system, with optional county primaries
for the selection of delegates to state
and district conventions. Several
weeks ago Noble declared he would Of
fer bill in the legislature for the
repeal of the primary law. Today he
made good his promise. 1t is the first
move to repeal the primary law since
its enactment at a special legislative
session in 1908.
Il don't know whether enough votes
can be secured to repeal the law at
this session, but 1 shall fight for
showing on the bill,' said Noble. MY
reason for introducing the measure at
this time is to show that 1 was not
bluffing and was not afraid to offer
the bill. Then, too, 1 want to keep
the record straight. 1 want to know
how many members are actually for
the primary or who talk for it merely
because they think it is popular
Little Demand for Primary.
Noble does not believe the primary
law is greatly demanded by the voters.
He is opposed to- the measure, he
stated, both because of the enormous
expense attached to the operation of
the law and inability of the measure to
reform or improve the election sys-
tenn.
I'm my judgment there is not the
demand for the law that politicians
seem to believe exists" said Noble.
Personally L am willing to meet the
issue by going on record for the abb
solute repeal of the law"
other members who have publicly
declared they will fight the primary
law are Frank L. Martin 'ofoo Reno
county; Burt Brown of Greenwo cd,
and H. j. Taylor, Wabaunsee county
Two years ago Frank L. Travis, of AL
len county declared he would offer a
bill opposing the primary. Travis was
made administration whip in an effort
to grease the troubled legislative
waters-and Travis forgot to offer his
bill.
Macl<'s Many Reforms.
Representative c. c. Mack of Har-
vey county, today loaded the calendar
with proposed reforms. He introduced
a bill providing for state construction
of hard surface roads and the estab-
1ishment of a state highway commits
sion. A two-m'll road levy is pro-
vided by the bill for hard surface
roads. The measure also permits the
state 10 participate in use of the fed
era1 road fund
Mack also offered a resolution pro-
viding for submission to the voters of
a proposition for a constitutional con-
vention. In an effort to avoid trouble
in submission of a possible proposed
constitution, Mack would submit
amendments providing for submission
! of more than three amendments in a
single election and for ratification of
a call for a constitutional convention
by a majority of the votes cast on the
proposition.