The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-06-14
POLITICAL REFORMS.

Political reforms nave been engrafte,
into the politics of the state BY polit
itieal reformers. These reformers ar,
the product of those left over after q
convention has been held. That is. they
were candidates for some office, but, not
having the grip and password OF the po-
litical machine, they were turned down
They Immediately started out on mis-
sion of reforming politics, They have
been instrumental in securing the pass
age of laws intending to purify the bal.
lot box, purifying conventions and puri,
flying primaries, They evolved the idea
that if the Australian ballot law was ad.
opted in Oregon, that not only would it
be productive of curing many of the evils
complained of, but might possibly give
them show to secure the nomination
for some coveted position. The Aus
tralian ballot law was adopted, and aside
of making it more difficult for a person
to vote and longer to count the ballots,
there has been no improvement in the
system of voting and the reforms have
been unable to secure the nomination or
election TO Office.
Then it became necessary TO strike at
the root of the evil. and the direct pri
mary law was proposed. This would Ger.
taiRly give the reformer a chance for his
money. He could get on the ticket and
possibly fall in for a nomination. The
legislature, afraid to antagonize the di-
rect primary contingent, passed law,
The first demonstration of its utility
and purifying qualities were exhibited
at Portland last month. Nearly every
man in Portland was a candidate for of.
flee. The primaries were held, and, beins
under the control of the ring, the resul,
was the same as the old-style convention.
The reformers managed to receive about
300 votes out of $1,000. The direct pri.
mary law was farce and an expensive
piece of political machinery.
From this may be learned two import
ant facts. One is, that there is no legis.
lative body in this world that can pass
law that political ring cannot manipu.
late and dictate the nominations and
elections No matter how honest or
meritorious the system proposed or the |
plan adopted nor how safely guarded |
from political intrigue, it will be mould
ed like clay in the hands Of the potter by
professional politicians and the result is
always the same. Second, no political re.
formers ever lived, or ever will, that can
devise law TO elect them to office unless
they have the sanction of the party man.
ayers. This is the history of every state
in the United States. There has TO be a
head to every organization and a party
has to be administered the same as any
great company administers its business
affairs; from recognized head down
through the intermediary branches of
every department. Politics is science.
1t is not taught in the public schools or
in the colleges. 1t is acquired by personal
experience and by starting in at the low.
est round of the ladder and working up
to the top, the same as in any kind of
business. The most faithful and compe.
tent; the shrewdest and most calculating
are the successful ones in business and in
politics. We are not criticizing political
machines nor the members OF political
parties who control the politics Of a city
county or state, but simply to show the
impossibility Of reforming politics by
legislative enactment. There j. only one
way to purify poitcs-if they need puri- .
fying-and that is for the stay at home {
contingent those that pay the taxes and .
bear the burdens of political governments
TO 20 to the primaries and 10 the polls
but as long as they take no interest and
make no effort to change existing evils {
just so long will politics be managed >,
through party machines and there is no
law or ballot reform that can prevent a
man from belonging TO the machine, on f
from using his endeavours and influence I
imong the rank and file TO secure politi.
al preferment Politics is Just as hon.
,rable as any other business There are t
ust as many honest men holding office t
's there are engaged in other lines Of
business. There are no more defaulting
politicians than there are defaulting K