Step-by-step explanation:
Governor Robert M. La Follette established a direct primary in his state to b. allow citizens to select candidates for elections.
The direct primary system was a progressive reform introduced in the early 20th century to increase the participation of citizens in the candidate selection process. Prior to the direct primary, political party leaders had significant influence in handpicking candidates for state and local offices. This often led to a lack of transparency and limited citizen involvement in the candidate selection process.
By implementing the direct primary, Governor La Follette aimed to shift the power from party leaders to the voters. Under this system, eligible citizens would directly participate in selecting their party's candidates through a popular vote. This allowed for greater democratic participation and helped to reduce the influence of party bosses and backroom dealings in the candidate selection process.
Governor La Follette's establishment of the direct primary was in line with the progressive movement of the time, which sought to increase citizen engagement, promote transparency, and reduce corruption in politics.