Omaha daily bee., 1918-09-05
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Statewide Primary and Short Ballot.

Lincoln, Sept. 3.-To the Editor Of
The Bee: Under date Of August rs
a Nebraskan of wide experience in
politics, and who has been honored by
election to several high Offices, one
of which he holds today, writes:
ut is doubtless apparent to you by
this time that our system OF nominat-
ing candidates by fling and holding a
primary election has failed In its pur-
pose. You are the man to
make close estimate of the
cost to each candidate and put 1t in
form so that it can be used in the
future" .a
Inasmuch as our law relative to cor
rupt practices excludes postage, print
ing, circular letter1 travelling and
other personal expenses OF the candi-
date, but does include newspaper ad-
vertising, the records Of the secretary
of state and the several county clerks
will reveal possibly considerably less
than half of what the recent primary
cost those who aspired to nomina-
ton. l shall take time to prepare the
estimate; but for the present assume
that most persons agree that our pri-
mary system imposes heavy burden
upon candidates-one altogether out
of proportion to the legitimate benefits
to accrue. am not ready to say that
the money expended in our primaries
is an economic loss, but there Is no
question that 1t should come out of
larger number Of pockets than at
present 54
From the precinct caucus up to the
legislative sessions, and every official
act Of the executive state ofhcers..
every step is a part Of our system OF
representative democracy, and one in
which all the people, whether they
realize 1t or not are interested. Po-
litical organizations are no longer re-
garded as private clubs. in the con-
duct Of which the general public has
little or no interest, slight oversight,
and no responsibility for the costs:
Year by year 1t is recognized more and
more fully that each political organi-
cation is an integral part Of govern
ment.
Revolt against the abuses Of the old
nominating convention system led to
the adoption Of the statewide pri-
mary, but no man could foresee that it
would emasculate the press, robbing it
of It's high estate as a reflector of pub
lie opinion and making 1t mere intel
lectual taxicab for the transportation
of what each candidate has brass
enough to say about himself. Theer is
no doubt that the primary brings con-
siderable revenue to the newspapers
and thy are surely entitled to all they
receive; but the advertising bills
should be borne by all the people di-
rectly.
I would not favor abolition of the
present primary, and am not sure l
should favor the so-called short bal
lot" even II our constitution permitted
It; but I believe a modification of our
present law can be made In such a
way as to place the burden OF expense
where 1t belongs, gain at least part
Of the short ballot benefits and return
to the state nominating convention
purged of its most obvious evils.
do not claim these amendments will
will not at all times require the alert
attention Of every good citizen.
Roughly jotted down, these changes
are as follows:
Thirty days or more prior to last
filing day for county officers, permit
a ''slate" or group fling to be made
in the Office Of secretary Of state, to-
gether with platform of principles and
measures, by the candidate for COVER
nor, giving the names and postoffice
addresses of the seven candidates he
desires associated with him on the
party ticket for general election. Fill
ing fee, $500; platform to not exceed
1000 words Filing to be "ar"om-
panied by concise biographical sketch
Of the eight group candidates, not eX-
ceeding 2,4o0 words for the eight.
Secretary of state, not later than 20
days before last filing day for county
officers, to publish in every legal news
paper In Nebraska each group filing,
| giving names and postoffice addresses
| of candidates, the platform in full and
the biographical sketches Provision
should be made that the platform
shall be published in S-point Roman.
| and that the biographical sketches
should be entitled to the space re-
| quired to set them In 10-point, 13-em
measure; and that If the candidates
desire, and supply the necessary cuts,
| the allotted space might be used partly
in cuts and partly in printing. Pub
| lication should be one time in every
| legal newspaper, and bills paid by the
| state.
Within the time of filing for county
! offices candidates for delegate to the
| state nominating convention may file,
each filing to be accompanied by a
| written declaration showing which
| group the aspirant wishes to represent
and pledge to support each candi-
| date in such group for not less than
three formal ballots in the state norn-
mating convention. Delegates to re-
| ceive SO per diem for not more than
three days, together with actual rail-
| e. x..t~f ~