The Meeker herald., 1894-08-25
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE
PRIMARIES.


There has probably never been q
campaign since Colorado became a
state so hotly contested as will be the
one now before us. 1t is not only that
| the result of this election has a great
bearing on the elections of 1896, but
| the entire state seems tired of having
been dupcd by professional politicians
for 10! these many years. Reputable
citizens are tired of standing sponsor
! for political parties that are in the
| hands of tricksters. They have re
n aimed quiet until the ticket was elab-
| Grated, and were expected to vote it
straight, good or bad. There were al
ways n few good names on each one
| to catch the respectable vote. and if
/ there were any who did not like the
| ticket they would generally remain ut
/ home on election day in supreme dis
| gust and cry: ''The parties are all cor
| rTpt; they are all alike. Thank heav-
en-. have nothing to ask of them, so
| am not obliged to have anything to
| do with politics." My good friend,
| you are all wrong. Your selfshness
and indifference are arrant folly. Is il
nothing to you that your taxes are
/ double what they ought to be, because
| the administrations have been extrava-
giant in a dozen different ways, not the
| least being actual peculation? A long
! payroll to give sop to the men who
worked the primaries and conventions
| is n time-hOnored way to spend public
moneys. If spoils is what is wanted,
/ do you think any one will be of an
/ economical turn of mind? Are not
I Uncle sam and the taxpayer legitimate
prey Are laws enforced? Are the
u lsfrsg plgnnI Ara tho nj -
! and state frequently deprived of the
| loyal, efficient services of good men
and women to make room for men and
women whose only merit consists in
being capable Of pushing some politi
/ cal scheme no matter how question
| able. to SUGGEST Success is surely
what each party is striving for, but
! let us have little faith in human ma
ture and believe that success may be
legitimate, and that there are in our
state and country enough honest and
/ disintcrestcd people. that is. those not
after spOilS. to insure success to those
who stand for principle aud for good,
, clean government. If these good people
will come out and attend their primal
ries. The duty of good citizenship
cannot be too strongly urged in this
[ connection.
y
| committeeman are. but you can always
find them out through the chairman
Of your county central committee. BE
sure that there is Il woman on every
/ precinct committee. and 1t Is best that
size be not the wife or sister of any Of
the other members of the committee.
Get acquainted with your committee
men and enroll yourself on his list, so
that he will not rcpudiate your vote
mt the primaries Insist that no eau
c..s or primary shall be held over or
near a saloon, then your particular
friends will not have that as an ex-
cIIsc for staying away from the pri-
mnrics. No one is supposed to be ell
giblc TO vote at primary unless he
sh III have voted the ticket at the last
Drcr,dirg election, or at least 50 identi-
nrd himself with the party whose pri-
I.trripg he wishes to attend that there
Cnu b. no question of his good falth.
Tlr new element in our politics, the
woman vote. viii modify established
ri,las ON this point. but nevertheless,
II Won haven't identified yourself with
any party. do - at once if you want
to- have Il hand In nominating ticket
that you will not be ashamed to vote
fOf. Late converts 10 a party should
not expect to be sent to the state or
county convention, as wise generals
do not send raw recruits to the front,
bat they can at least help to send hon
est delegates who will not sell out
their party to their opponents The
time IS drawing near, so "choosc ye
this day whom you will serve, for ye
cannot serve God and mammOn."