Omaha daily bee., 1919-05-05
Lincoln Bureau Of The Omaha Bee
Enemies Of Primary Law
Admit It Has Good Points
Sentiment Seems to be Changing on Many Points; Pro-
vision for Women is Main Bone of Contention With
Those in Favor Of Revolving Recall

things and nominated whom they
pleased. They forgot to take into
consideration that conditions now
are not by a long way what they
were in the days of the old conven-
ton system. At that time the rail-
roads furnished passes to a majority
Of the delegates and were able to
pack the conventions. The 1907
legislature passed an anti-pass law
and the railroads were put out of
business as far as furnishing passes
was concerned. Conditions are diff
ferent now. The railroads do not
dominate politics nor is the liquor
interests playing part in conven-
tons. These have been obliterated
and therefore conditions are not as
they were in the old days.
But were it a fact that corpora
tons did desire to control elections
it could be done under the primary
way of nominating officers much
easier than by trying to control
conventions. Suppose, for instance,
that Mr.. Jones was candidate for
state treasurer and suppose that the
banking interests of the state de-
sired to put him across as the non:i-
nee of either party. A judicious
advertising campaign in the five big
daily papers of the state would
nominate him every time and this is
not a case of finding fault with the
papers. Under the law they are
compelled to take advertising as
long as it is legitimate and when
candidate offers his advertising they
have to take it. This would take
less money and be much easier
proposition than trying to control
convention.
Specific Instance.
just to show that this has been
done in the past since we have been
working under the primary system,
few years ago gentleman was
a candidate for a state office. Two
of the big papers of the state and
some of the smaller ones, made an
attack upon his candidacy on the
grounds that he was friendly to the
corporations and that the corpora
tons were probably putting up the
money for his campaign. Yet be-
fore the primary campaign was over.
every big daily paper in the state
was carrying a full page or half
page advertisement of this candi,
date and the smaller papers were
carrying smaller ones. Was he
nominated? OF course he was.
Who" the voter went to his voting
booth and came to the Office for
which this man was running, that
name was more familiar than the
others md he simply voted for him,
knowing nothing of his qualifica-
tons perhaps as compared with the
other candidates.
The contention is made that the
new law takes away from the peo-
pie their rights to say what they
want, and yet the very men who
are using this argument are depriv-
ing, by the contemplated us. of the
referendum, the people from having
chance to try the new law out,
and see whether it is good law
or not. Since the primary law was
enacted in 1907 it has been amended
by several legislatures and each
time the change appeared to be ben
ehcial. That the law was far from
p feet has been time and again
shown.
.. Should Have Trial.
The legislature has made another
change in hopes to make it better.
Why should any bunch of men take
such action as will deprive the peo-
pie of the chance to try the law
and see if it will be satisfactory.
Surely, in all fairness, the people
should not be deprived of chance
to see whether they like the new
law, and then if it is not workable,
the next legislature can make the
needed changes or 60 back to the
old law if it thinks best. The state
will never get anywhere on any law
If the people are not given chance
to place their approval or disappro-
val upon it and they can not do that
intelligently until they have seen the
new law work.
A business man wants manager
for his store. He is never sure he
has t right man until he has tried
him out. If he turned every man
away who applied for the job he
would never get manager. He
simply gives an applicant a trial,
and then he knows for sure whether
he is the one he wants. The peo-
pie of Nebraska should be given
chance to try the new primary law
Just as the merchant tries out his
new manager.