The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-08-02
PRIMARY ELECTION LAW.

1t is not the usual thing to talk pol.
tiles in the good old summer time
especially during off years. but the
primary election law passed by the
ninth legislative assembly is Begin
ming to be a subject of discussion in
some parts Of Montana. The kalis-
pell Inter.Lake says:
There is a strong probability that
Flathead county will hold its next
election with candidates nominated
under the primary law provided for
by the last legislature. A movement
has been started to have the question
Of the adoption of the primary law
submitted to the electors of the county,
and there is not much doubt about OBJ.
tanning the necessary signatures to
have the election called, and there is
still less doubt about what the result
OF such an election would be. indie.
pendent of the personal preferences of
the majority Of the electors of the
county on the primary election system,
it Is not probable that any one would
make q determined fight against it,
and the probabilities are that three.
fourths Of those who would go to the
polls at q special election to vote on
the question would favor the adoption
of the primary system.
There is no party question in it.
All the parties in the last campaign
declared emphatically for the adop.
ton OF the primary system OF nomi.
mating candidates, although there Is a
strong suspicion that the gentlemen
who were instrumental in getting that
plank in the platforms were not so
very enthusiastic over it. 1t was
thought that the mass of the people of
the state wished such a declaration.
aud as it Is the business OF politi.
cal conventions to promise the people
anything they are supposed to want,
the primary election plauks were put
into the platforms, and all the parties
protested to favor them.
But when the legislature came up to
the question last winter nearly all the
members fought shy OF it. No one
wished to oppose a declaration of his
party platform, but no one was pass
ing sleepless nights preparing a law
and making a fight to get it passed.
But to make q showing Of carrying
out platform promises such a law was
finally passed, with the proviso that
it should have a local option feature.
and the people Of the different counties
were to decide whether they wished to
adopt the system or not.
1t i, probable that Us an abstract
proposition niue.tenths Of the voters
OF the county would be in favor of the
adoption of the primary election sys.
tenn. Ii would put the choice of the
candidates OF the parties in the hands
OF the masses OF the party, and it
would etfectually put az end to the cry
OF ''ring-' in the making Of uomiua.
tion-. There are plenty of good ar-u-
ments for il. The only serious objec-
,iou to 1t i that il would BE pretty
expensive. An election under the pr!-
mary law would cost nearly d. much.
as a general election. and the question
simply /, whether the county wishes
to pay the price for something that l.,
conceded by nearly everyone to be a
desirable change.
There ar some people who are op.
posed TO the primary election because
they do not believe il to be a good
method OF conducting things. but the
majority OF those who oppose it DO so
for the reason that they either are
prospective candidate, and are afraid
to trust their chances with the general
mass OF the party: Or they are men
who have been in the habit OF mauip.
u~ltaing conventions, and would tiud
their occupation gone Under a differ
cut order Of things.
Cascade also has a move on TO adopt
the system in that county. and it is
likely that other counties will take it
up before the next election. |, is
probable that a little energetic work
would put it in force in any county in
the state.