Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 149, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 January 1904 — Benton Will Try A Primary Ejection. [ARTICLE]

Benton Will Try A Primary Ejection.

The Republican committee in Benton county has decided to nominate their county ticket this year by a primary election, and the party papers over there seem to think that method will be a sure preventive of all party and personal disaffection, and a dead sure thing on selecting the very best men for the places. But alas! there is no absolutely perfect method for making party nomina tions. Many years ago, Jasper county tried the primary election plan, and worked it to a finish; md it mighty near worked them to finish, too. The first time it *tried it worked fine; the second time not nearly so well, and by the third time it was used, it proved to be a little the best invention for eleotirg Democrats in a strongly Republican county that wan ever put in service. And its working abilities in that line did n>t lose all their force until years after tne method itself was rejected. In truth, judging from Jasper county’s experience, there is no better means to get Republicans by the ears and to set them to fighting each other instead of the Democrats, than to nominate their county tickets by primary elec tions. A good big county delegate c >nvention, composed of delegates elected in precinct mass conventions, and not to exceed two days before the convention is held, has proved by repeated trials the best way to make the county nominations.