Omaha daily bee., 1918-09-16
Plans for n Primary.

| suuS lOE " TFlllhFl.
| Omaha. Sept. Ito the Editor
of The Bee: Summing up the pres
ent primary system in this state,
many candidates for office have
found that the direct primary can
| be controlled by political bosses and
corporation influence under the slate
system.
BY this system too heavy a bur-
| den of expense Is placed on candi-
dates in proportion to the legitimate
benefits to accrue, as the salaries
paid for state offices are too small
to recompense the candidate for the
expense incurred in securing the
nomination and election.
The recent primary shows that
some candidates, practically un-
heard Of, and who only paid the fl
ing fee for the office, through some
mysterious manner have been NOM
mated over other candidates who
were better known, and who ex-
pended a considerable sum in news
paper advertising; This thoroughly
proves that the political bosses are
still masters of politics by being able
to manipulate the present day pri-
mary through the slate system.
Under the slate system a candi-
date Is forced to political bargaining
with political bosses and corpora
ton influences. to align himself with
other candidates and thus form a
slate. Slate cards, printed with the
names of candidates for the respec-
tive Offices, are distributed by hired
workers at each voting precinct, to
the voters in the primary election
day, and through this organization
they defeat the very purpose Of the
direct primary law which was
adopted by the people as a reform
measure against the abuses OF the
old convention system so as to give
every candidate fair and square
deal, free from all influences, SO that
democracy might prevail and the
people might rule.
Granting that the present pri-
mary law Is failure, no candidate
would invite back the old conven-
ton system with its political intrigue.
But a modification of our present
primary law, by a few amendments,
we can secure a perfect system of
nomination and election, which will
eliminate political bosses and insure
honest elections.
First-By amending the law to
make the filing fee for public Office
SIS, and the candidate to swear I'M
der oath that he will not expend di-
rectly or by contribution over $500
in primary expenses. Further he will
not allow his name to be associated
with any other candidate or candi-
dates in making out a slate, instruct
ing voters to vote for such a slate,
the penalty for violation thereof be-
ing prison sentence of one year;
and any person who aids or assists
in distributing such slate cards is
guilty of election frauds, punishable
by one year in prison. This will
eliminate the political boss, and will
allow every candidate fair chance,
and will insure better type Of Office
seeker.
Year by year 1t Is recognized more
fully that the political organizations
are part of the government, but
these political organizations through
the adoption of the direct primary
law, are to be no longer regarded as
private clubs in which the general
public has little or no interest ex-
cept to pay the election expenses.
The present primary law should be
amended SO that every man who de-
sires to vote should be registered at
the primary and If he is not inter-
ested enough to register at the pri-
mary, he should lose his vote at the
election.
Another change should be made in
the state platform convention, in
which the so-called unit rule should |
be absolutely prohibited. Each in
dividual delegate should be allowed |
to vote as he sees fit on every mea-
sure for the conventions considera-
ton. This unit rule is the worst |
form of political piracy, a usurper of |
power, and authority, and is not a
representative form Of government. |
Not only that, but it is an instru-
ment made use of by political bosses
to deprive the individual of his right |!
of referendum.
The committee on platform should |
be selected by the convention, one |
member from each congressional |
district, and in this way every section |
will have a voice in the making of |
the planks Of the platform, and |
should make perfect system.
The suggestions that have offered !
for the betterment of the present di-
rect primary law, IL such amend
ments were enacted into laws, l be-
lieve would prove step forward in
our political affairs, and would in
sure bona fide candidates, free from
boss rule and corporation influence,
and keep the campaign expenses
within ordinary bounds, and would |
provide ample protection for candi-
dates seeking office against fraudu-
lent manipulation Of the direct pri-
mary law. ROY NJ. HARROP.
n.o.. III RI