Great Falls tribune., 1922-04-21
THE PRIMARY IN ILLINOIS

THE PRIMARY IN ILLINOIS
x FEW weeks ago the republican
= state convention in Maine
went on record as demanding the
repeal Of the primary election Law
in that state on the ground that Il
had debased political standards and
resulted in putting in office very
inferior public servants. At the
recent meeting Of the democratic
central committee of this state,
Senator B. c. White made similar
charges against the primary In this
state and moved the appointment
of committee to consult with the
republican state committee Of this
state with a view to taking joint
action to. submit to the voters 4
referendum on ito repeal. The mo-
tion was voted down by a two to
one vote, but many voted against
the motion who would have gladly
voted for the repeal of the primary
law. They knew that the demo-
cratic party was divided on the
question, and felt that the best way
to secure referendum on its re-
peal was initition Of such repeal
rather than by, joint party action.
We think it quite likely that such
a test Of public sentiment may be
made at the next election and hope
it will be. So far as our own
opinions go on this subject our
readers can be in no doubt about
them because they have been ire
quently expressed In these columns,
We think the primary law is one Of
the worst measures this state ever
adopted, and we arrived at this con.
clusion after having supported it
when it was first proposed and
urged our readers to vote for it.
Practical experience Of its work
ings since have led Us to conclude
that it cures none of the evils it
was supposed to cure, intensifies
and multiplies many Of these evils,
and in effect serves the interests
of crooked politicians rather than
the interests Of the voters. The
other day they had 4 primary cleo
ton in Chicago, and the results
opened the eyes Of the Chicago
Tribune. which In past years has
been one Of the chief champions Of
primary system. to its evils. The
Springfield (Mass.) Republican is
another newspaper that has cham
pioned the primary system, and still
has a good word to say about it,
though It admits that it needs .
good deal Of fixing as It works in
the Old Bay State. Speaking Of
the Chicago primary election re-
Gently tho Springfield Republican
says:
"A voter in Chicago in Tues
days primaries was called upon to
vote for nominees to l9 offices
few Of the state offices
become vacant this year. The
reader may be interested in the
list, probably incomplete because
we have pieced it together with
some difficulty from the puzzle
picture reports of the primaries in
the Chicago Tribune:
State treasurer.
State superintendent Of pub
lie instruction.
Congressman at large (full
term).
Congressman at large IVA
cancy.)
State senator.
Representative in legislature.
Member Of state committee.
County judge.
County sheriff.
County clerk.
Probate judge.
Clerk criminal court.
County school superintcnd-
ent.
President county board.
Member board Of review.
Assessor. ........
Three sanitary trustees.
~The Chicago Tribune fought q
mighty battle years ago to secure
the direct nominations system in
Illinois. Now it confesses that it
Ia disillusioned and disappointed.
It wants the old convention system
Commenting on Tues
Jays primary results, it says:
The politicians complicated
the tickets to such m extent
that The citizen whose main in