The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-03-08
Return to System of NOmina-
tiOns by Delegates.
COUNTY OFFICERS BY PRIMARY
But State Officials and u. S.
Candidates Are Affected.
Charge That Big Money Is Con-
trolling Elections.

Repeal of the present statewide
primary law as it applies to the nomi-
nation of state officials candidates forl
the United States senate and for con-
gress was recommended in the house
today in bill by the elections COM
mittee. The bill provides that county
officers shall be nominated in the pri-
maries which select delegates to the
state and district conventions.
A return to ehe system of nominat-
ing officers by the representative del
egate plan would follow passage of
the bill. 1t would remove the objec-
tionable features of the statewide pri-
mary, reduce the expense and permit
nomination of candidates by delegates
acquainted with the qualifications of
the men and women seeking the Of
fices. One of the big objections raised
against the present primary system is
| that it is controlled by persons able to
spend large sums of money in winning
nominations or persons controlling ex-
tensive publicity facilities. 1t has also
been declared that a very small per
cent of the voters are personally ac-
quainted with candidates or their
qualifications.
Under the plan outlined by the
house committee candidates for
United States senate, congress and
state office would be nominated by
| the delegates selected in local pri-
| maries. The primaries to select dele
gates to the conventions, as well as
| the nomination of county and town
| ship. officers and members of the leg
| islature, would be held the first Tues
day in May. The August primaries
would be entirely abolished. Follow
| ing the selection of delegates in the
primaries, conventions would be held
| in all congressional districts the sec
ond Tuesday in May. These conven-
tions would nominate candidates for
congress.
| The state convention would be held
the third Tuesday in May. This con-
vention would nominate candidates for
all state offices, well as United
States senator during the years when
| senators are to be elected. The state
| convention would also write the party
platform and arrange for the organi-
zation of the state committee. The
days following the convention and
1 would elect officers for the campaign.
OrIe Amendment Is Ready.
| The house today adopted provisions
of the tax amendment to the state
constitution as approved by the senate.
The measure provides for submission
to the voters of an amendment to the
cation of property for taxation pur-
poses. This measure will be submit
ted to the voters in 1920. 1t is now
ready for Governor Aliens signature
and is the first constitutional measure
agreed upon by the house and senate.
Members of the house military COM
mittee today recommended passage of
a bill appropriating. s160,036.36 for
relief of Kansas state guardsmen and
organizations which provided equip
ment for the men in this service. An
appropriation of S64,s73.S6 is asked
for the individual guardsmen who pro-
vided their own uniforms and equip
ment. An additional S95.16250 is
asked for reimbursement of the cities.
counties, townships and corporations
which supplied equipment for the men
organized to meet the war time situa-
ton when the national guardsmen
were called into federal service.
Still No Purity Bill.
4 House members devoted nearly an
other half day to consideration of the
social disease bill without passing or
defeating the measure. 1t was a great
opportunity for the lawyers and the
house orators. They flayed the bill
and each other and said sarcastic
things about people who opposed the
proposed purity legislation. Aside
from putting another half day of the
session in the discard. the fighting
amounted to nothing flat. The bill is
just where 1t stood a week ago. Near
ly two days of oratory has been spilled
over the bill and the measure has
. made two trips to house committee
rooms without winning final action.