Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-03-02
LEWISTOWN. MONT. March 2 1906.
SIGN THE PETITIONS.

Those qualified voters who desire
that the primary election law should
be put into force and effect in this
county should sign their names to the
petitions being circulated at once in
order that the board of county com.
miSsioners can take the preliminary
steps in submitting the matter to the
people at their regular session now
approaching. One county, Ravalli, has
already voted favorably and Cascade
county will vote on the question on
the 9th inst. In number of other
counties petitions are being circulat'
ed and generally signed.
Two years ago there was "a popular
demand for primary election law,
so strong was the pressure that no
party in Montana dare ignore it, hence
all parties made it an important plank
in their platforms. Labor organiza-
tons especially favored a change from
conventions to direct nominations. In
keeping with the pledge of the Repub-
lican platform Senator Waite of this
county introduced a bill patterned af-
ter the best features of the primary
laws now in operation in several
states of the east. The bill, which was
carefully drawn passed with very
few changes and with little opposition
While it was deemed best to make
fh, nInnt ian pf tho a
with the various counties. believing
that local conditions should determ
inc the necessity for a change, it un
doubtedly would have met with pop
ular approval had it been made gen
orally applicable at once.
1t has been said that the politicians
don't want the law and that is the
reason why it contains the local option
provision. While we believe the bill
was offered and made law in gooi
faith. if the feeling exists that party
leaders do not want it then there
should be no opposition to it if there
is desire on the part of voters tC
name men for the various county OF
fees. We believe il would go great
ways in removing the bitterness OF
feeling that generally follows nominal
ing conventions under the present sys
TEN. 1t will break all states and stor
all trading and give the voters of each
and every party the chance to name
the one ne thinks best fitted for a
place on the ticket. The voice of the
majority will be supreme and there
can be no appeal or charge of dirty
work
Any primary law will be defective
A new law must be tried and its imper-
fections discovered and changed to suit
the demands of voters so far as it is
consistent and safe.
The Montana Daily Record, speak
ins of the manifest desire to try the
law in this state comments as fol-
lows:
Perhaps the law is complicated;
perhaps there are points that are not
clear. The newspapers have printed
anG are printing today summaries of
thelaw that are plain. AS matter
OF fact, there was never an election
law that was perfect. The Record be-
lieves that the Waite measure is as
nearly an approach to the standard az
ANY that has been adopted in any
state: the intention was to includ,
The best of the provisions OF seVera
states. with reference TO the law un
der discussion, and to add thereto sucl
provisions or to eliminate therefron
provisions which applied peculiarl!
To the communities of, say, Wisconsin
or Minnesota.
Whatever betide, trial of the PR
mary election law in this state can d,
no harm. The law ought to be civ
ell a test. The Record believes tina
Its operation will prove to be an i'm
plovement over the system that ha
prevailed heretofore. Il is not a Re
publican measure because il was in
troduced by a Republican and passe,
by Republican legislature 1t is tn
evidence of the desire of every part
as expressed in their platform tw
years ago. and at other times. AS ha
been often stated it is not a part
act, but one which every party df
mands and which every party seeks
No less should the people seek it, 70
in its adoption lies their salvation a
the polls. Sign the petitions"