Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-09-11
KENDALL POINTS TO SUPPORT
OF ELECTION LAW AS
HUGE JOKE.
CANDIDATES ALWAYS OF
HAND-PICkED VARIETY
Selection of Herring and Others This
Year No Exception to Democratic
Rule-kendall Favors Modificat
of Present Primary Laws to Meet
Needs--Law Compromise.
special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican
New Virginia. Sept. ia large
portion OF the farming community
of southern Warren county and por-
tons Of Clarke and Madison met
here yesterday, and heard Hon. Nate
L. Kendall, the republican candidate
for governor, in an address m which
he discussed many matters of gen
eral state interest.
The general desire for modifica-
ton of the primary system Of maxi
ing nomination in Iowa to get better
results was referred to by Mr.. Ken
dali in his speech and his position
was stated plainly. He made 1t
known he is in full accord with the
prevailing sentiment for betterment
of the nominating system and will
insist upon changes that preserve all
that is good in the present way OF
making nominations. He also called
attention to the fact that the oppon-
ents OF the republican party have Mt
all times sought to nullify tho law
and have in fact ignored 1t and re-
sorted to the old method OF choosing
candidates for state office by the
party boss plan.
''One Of the many amusing Incl
dents produced by the present CAM
paign," MIR. Kendall said, lis the So
iicitude expressed by the democratic
party and it's hand-picked candi-
dates for the preservation Of the pri-
mary. All this Is especially ludicrous
when it is remembered that for the
past twelve years the nominees of
that party never have derived their
title from primary or convention, but
always from voluntary conference
of self consulted political bosses who
convene biennally In Des Moines to
determine who shall be recognized
on the state ticket. The rank and file
of the party Is not consulted at all,
and generally gentlemen are draft
ed as candidates who are known to
be wealthy enough to finance a cam
paign and believed to be unsophisti-
Gated enough to supply the sinews Of
war.
Herring Hand Picked.
1T is commonly understood that
my distinguished competitor for the
goyernorship was secured by exact
| ~ that convenient method and for
precisely that impressive reason. His
professed devotion to the primary is.
therefore, one Of the most laughab BILE
absurdities of the pending contest.
ALLOW me, II you please, to recite
a little history and to supplement 1t
with little prophesy. The present
primary law was enacted by the re-
publican party when / was speaker
of the house Of representatives, and
had some small duty in formulating
the legislation. When the matter came
to be considered by the general as
senbly it developed that there were
many men OF many minds, and the
result finally reduced to statute was
necessarily a compromise Of conflict
ing opinions. The measure was an
experiment, designed to eliminate
abuses manifest in theI caucus sys-
tenn which it superseded, and to In
vest the individual voter with larger
power in the selection OF his party
candidates. The departure was ex-
cellent in purpose. but experience has
demonstrated that it is not altogether
satisfactory In practice.
THE objection most frequently adj
vanced is that as applied to many
positions to be filled the voters can
not familiarize themselves with the
qualifications and merits of all those
who aspire to nomination, and that
with iegard to the secondary offices
they are compelled to choose without
sufficient information on the subject.
It can not be denied that there is VAL
idity in this complaint. The repub-
lican platform declares for such mod
LITIGATION in the existing law as will re-
move the defects which have become
apparent, and at the same time Sc
cure to the elector increased oppor-
tuntiy to register his personal choice
With this declaration I trust all re-
| publicans are in complete accord. The
principle of the primary will not be
surrendered by the party which es-
tablished it, but the law will be amend
ed to rended less difficult and more
effective the expression Of the popu-
lar will"