The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1931-02-26
WHY NOT RETURN TO A SANE
POLITICAL BASIS?


the fast vanishing Democratic party in Min
nesota, rises up in righteous wrath at a
suggestion that Minnesota should return to
a sane basis of nominating candidates for po-
litical office and gives vent in the following
editorial outburst in the last issue of his most
excellent newspaper:
There has been a growing propaganda in the
state newspapers and many inspired utterances
in other directions, looking to discredting of
Minnesota's primary system of nominations. It's
object becomes evident with the gathering of the
1881 legislature Having fertilzed the field with
much compost to thoroughly respectable
Victorian word, the old-ne party-irst and ito
hell with the people, managers, and party hacks
of both old parties have counted noses in the
state house and senate, and believe they will be
able to pass a law at this session either to repeal
the non-partisan primary, to emasculate
it that it will be made ineffective.
They very likely to succeed unless every
person who believes in the rule of the people
rather than that of machines and bosses makes
himself heard and felt far as his voice can
reach and his blows can hurt
If they do succeed, the present generation of
voters in this state most of whom began voting
after the old convention system was ditched,
will get touch of what party caucuses and coun-
ty conventions can do to an agricultural state.
Perhaps such an experience might be the best
way to show the states voters what their 1881
lawmakers did to them. The trouble is that if
ever the old county convention township, county
and state bosses get into power again they will
be hard to dislodge.
The majority party is always in favor of power
in the fewest possible hands. 1t costs less that
way. With active agent in each township
and voting district that party can virtually die
tate every nomination.
In some parts of the state democrats would
put their hand-picked officials into power but
the republican majority would once more become
dominant and all powerful and venaI democrats
in office would cheerfully aid equally venal
. publicans to carry whatever pickin's and
stealin's emergency times demand And it is al
ways emergency times in the litany of party
hacks and machine politicians.
May an intelligent and wise legislature-let us
say house. for the senate seems far away from
the people,-rise in it's wrath to put quetus on
the plans and hopes of the states would-be
bosses.
For the purpose of argument let's look
at the much vaunted primary election law
Take the legislature, for instance Under
the present law any man who happens to
have ten dollars which he can spare files as
candidate for the legislature.
/ The Herald claims, without successful
contradiction, that the ability of the men,
bers of the Minnesota Legislature began to
deteriorate with the passage of the primary
election law. Many of the members now
serving could not have been nominated by
any political party. We would like to have
our very good friend and editor of the Fergus
Falls Tribune disprove this statement.
In the good old days" of the convention
system the best men were nominated. Check
pack over the records and see if this state
nent is not correct
In the days of the much discussed and
much criticised caucus system, what hap
oened? The judges of the caucus decided
whether voter was qualified to vote at the
party caucus.
i The editor OF this paper, as Republican,
has always contended that it was none of his
business who the Democrats, for example,
nominated for office. When November rolled
around it was up to the Individual voter to
make his selection.
h With the advent of the Primary election
aw what has happened? Mr. Average Voter
enters the election booth in a maze of doubt.
N many cases he hasn't cared for any of the
candidates. He endeavors to select the best
nan out of a host of incompetents.
The Herald urges our good friend to take
casual glance over the legislative makeup
# today. There are no Jacobsons, or Nolans.
There have been men of real ability in the
asst decade but after you eliminate the Spoon
rs, the Putnams, Nortons, Rocknes, Sulli-
,ans, the Dunns and the Hitchcocks, what
lave you?
Inc Herald contends great majority
# incompetents in the House and Senate
# the present Minnesota Legislature could
lot have been nominated in convention of
my political party.
HI This newspaper realizes the futility of
my attempt to return to party basis in
Minnesota. The members of the Minnesota
legislature are creatures of the Primary
lection law. The Herald takes it for granted
hat the legislators, as matter of self pro-
ection, will not vote to legislate themselves
'ut of office.
This government of ours to succeed best
must necessarily be a government by parties.
HI 1t is quite natural that our good friend
rom Fergus Falls should insist upon free
or all in the nomination Of candidates for