Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 February 1915 — Representative Wood Favors Primary Election Measure. [ARTICLE]

Representative Wood Favors Primary Election Measure.

The Jones state-wide primary bill passed the house Friday by a vote of 65 to 30. All but four democrats voted for the measure and all but eight republicans voted against it. Representative W. L. Wood, of Parr, voted for it. It is probable that the constituents of Representative Wood in White and Jasper counties are quite divided on the primary methods of making nominations. It is also probable that there are many others who are undecided whether the primary or the present delegate form of making nominations is the fairest to candidates for office. There is an honest division in the democratic party as well as in the republican party concerning this question. It is probable that the Jones measure would not have received so large a vote from the democratic side if some who supported it had not felt quite certain it would meet defeat in the senate. Many who have given considerable investigation to the primary election results in states where the law is in operation contend that the proud opportunities are increased instead of diminished and that the poor candidate is practically eliminated in primary elections, owing to the necessity of organization in every precinct and the accompaying expense. The enactmet of the law will mean the burden of extra taxation for paying election and canvassing boards, etc. Friends of the measure contend that it is the people’s way and that their voice can not be expessed in any other manner. Governor Ralston, Senator Kern, President Wilson and Secretary Bryan urge it as a reform measure. Probably they are no better able to judge of its advantages or disadvantages than the rest of us. The measure has its champions and its foes in each of the great parties and may be considered non-parti-san. Experience will probably be the only just judge of its worth.