The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1906-07-25
THE PRIMARY PLAN-sETTER,
SAFER AND sANER.


ically. We think. the Old method Of
making nominations by conventions.
The argument Of the Times. Democrat
is very Ear removed from the proof
that good government would be had
under that plan
The Arlmoreite observes that the
criticism Of the primary system is
that it forces the candidate to appeal
directly 20 each one of an she voters
ln the State. and this would De very
expensive. ls not this complaint.
when examined. a high tribute TO the
primary Upon what reasoning. con.
,isteut with the teachings OF nemoc-
acy can any method be fsufed
which fails 90 call into play the ex.
ercise OF sovereign power by each
voter. The argument made By the op-
position To- the primary system Is that
DO all voters are Induced 90 sit as
judges on the claims OF the several
candidates each candidate Is forced 10
get his case before each voter That
demands travel. speeches. letters--a
campaign OF education. In which all
candidates must join or retire from the
contest.
Could a more forceful plea for the
primary be made than the opposition
here enters against Il?
There has never been a general dis.
cussion Of State issues before the peo-
pie. The people have never been call.
ed upon to express their choice for
State administration. Under these
conditions. will It not be a better, a
safer and a aaner system for the can.
didates for Governor and the numer.
Gus candidates for other State ON.
ces and for the Legislature and for
the Constitutional Convention to make
hundreds Of speeches every day upon
State Affairs than the old gum shoe
method OF sending out strikers 70 or.
ganize the precincts and to capture
the mass meetings by strategy or by
the use Of money. as occasion may
require
The convention system makes the
wari.hoeler and convention boss alb
solute masters OF the situation The
primary election system gives the In.
diyidual voter supreme control. and
renders the menace OF corruption TO
minimum. by enlargement OF the
units who must be corrupted In order
TO control party action.
Power Is acquired by the consent OF
the people whether by a Roman gen.
aral returning IN triumph, a dema.
gogue who has the sagacity 10 work
q political machine. or a school board
Who by the tolerance Of a suffering
public. have become greater than the
people
The very genius OF our government
demands that an oficialdom from the
president down 90 a school board shall
be guided in their policy by the pre-.
yallus sentiments OF their constituent
Cy
The primary will endure and will
become absolute because Il stands
for government by the many. while
the convention represents government
by the few Under this system issues
viii soon become predominant and
mon will be made secondary. Local
organizations will be formed 20 pro
mote the triumphs Of particular ideas
and these efforts will enlist the coop.
Grafton Of the best and ablest men In
Oklahoma. many Of whom now take
no part In politics With the element
of individual interest made secondary.
a State campaign will not De a fight
for the elevation ot men, but q fght
FOR the domination OF policies. In q
contest OF that sort each county may
De trusted 20 take care OF Itself, and
there will he no need for the candi
date for Governor 10 make a direct
appeal % 10000 or more voters
Hundreds OF newspapers and platform
speakers will De enlisted in the cam
paigu and the candidate will be mere
ly the captain-not the whole army
Popular government IS but a pre-
tense when the controlling force is
any element less than the whole body
% authorized voters. and is desisnat.
"a by procedure which, directly or in
directly. eliminates those who are
righlfully entitled 20 a voice In gov.
erumeut. The convention system
takes the power which belongs 90
about 10000 voters in Oklahoma and
lodges IL in less than 500 persons. Il
is species OF disfranchisement