Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-05-10
State League Sends
Out Comprehensive
Synopsis
Reasons Why Voters Should
Favor the Direct Primary
Amendment set Forth
in Circular Letter

following circular letter to every
newspaper in the state and to many
of the individual voters. 1t clearly
sets forth the objects of the primary
law that is to be voted upon in June
and should be studied carefully by
those interested in the maintenance
of good government through the peo.
pie. The circular is as follows:
We ask your vote for the direct
primary nominating election law. No
302 on the official ballot for the fol-
lowing reasons: 1t makes the peoples
votes the only power to nominate
candidates for public office, and so
destroys the party boss system. This
is one of the greatest powers in our
government perhaps greater than
the right to elect the officers from
among the candidates after the nomi.
nation.
The men who really govern are
those in the great parties who can
make or break candidates for nomi-
nation So long as these bosses can
nominate their friends for Office the
government will be good for the
bosses no matter who is elected.
When the people nominate the can.
didates as well as elect the officers,
the government will be good for the
people no matter who is elected
Men have died for the right to cast
the ballot, and surely the right to
make the ballot is not less valuable
or sacred than the right to vote it,
No man would think of having del.
egates or conventions do his voting
at the general election, and it is quite
as important that he do his own vot-
ing at the nominating election.
In the last two years bills have
been introduced in % legislatures for
primary nominating elections. This
bill is submitted for the approval or
rejection of the people because it
cannot be defeated at the ballot box
by political tricks and trades
If you enact this law you will
choose your party candidates at a
nominating election, and no comblna.
ton Of bosses will be able to name
the candidates for your party, much
less can they make a slate for both
parties.
This bill is endorsed by many Re.
publican county conventions and by
the Democratic state convention. BY
a political trick of the managers the
question was not allowed to come be-
fore the Republican state convention.
1t is not a partisan measure in any
sense OF the word. Senator Mitchell.
Governor Chamberlain and other
broad-minded statesmen and poH.
ticians who are strong in an open con.
test before the people favor this bill
And with them are nearly all the men
who trust the people and believe they
are fit and able for self-government
The men who fear the people and
all little politicians who must have a
nomination given to them If they
ever get one, and all the boodlers and
bosses who make money out of poll
ties are against the bill.
1t Is not expensive, for it will cost
about S5 cents every two years for
each voter, or $4,000 for the state.
But the power to make nominations
must be worth more than II costs.
for the politicians do not complain OF
the expense.
IL is not more cumbrous or complt
Gated than the Australian ballot law
and it is drawn on the same princi.
pies, Nominations will be made by
the highest number of votes lust as
the constitution requires in all elec.
tions.
The best government is possible
only by having the best men of all
parties for candidates, and the people
can trust no one but themselves 10
choose such candidates. Nominations
cannot be bought nor stolen from
the people as they have been from
conventions.
When the people nominate, every
candidate for nomination must stand
alone on his own merits, and months
before the nominating election his
friends will be proelaiming his char
aeter, record, ability and fitness for
the place. But they will never boast
OF his payments to the primary
fund" nor OF the places he has found
in his once for the friends OF the
managing committee" at the ex-