Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-01-19
MONT, Jan. 10. 1906.
ADOPT THE PRIMARY LAW.

recognizing WHdt dpptdlCu w ~
the popular demand the Republican
party was the first to declare for the
primary election law in it's state plat
form and later to make possible its
adoption by the people by statutory
enactment In this matter as in 9th
ers, the party has endeavored to make
it's platform pledges good to the peo-
pie. 1t has opened the way for put
ting the primary law into effect. Let
the matter be taken up at once and the
necessary signers to a petition secur-
ed for the calling of special election.
The county commissioners must act
in the premises at the March session
in order to comply with the law. Let
the question be submitted to the peo-
ple for their acceptance or rejection.
If the people are anxious to do away
with party bosses and the machines
this will give them an opportunity
There seems to be demand every
where for more direct participation
in political affairs 1t is the growing
vital issue But with this demand
must naturally come greater RESPONSE
bllity to the individual voter. In the
past he has been content to leave
the matter of selecting candidates Tor
office to delegates chosen in primary
to attend the convention Of the party
with which he affiliated, trusting to
them or the party leaders to select
the men for office. Under the primary
election system the voter must take a
more active interest in order that he
may know the qualifications and per-
sonal fitness of the candidates of his
party for office The politicians and
party managers, even though they
sometimes abuse the trust imposed in
them and may seek to use the party
machinery for their own selfish ends
or for their immediate friends. are
generally men of keen insight into
human nature, chiefly by coming in
contact with their fellowmen more
frequently than does the average vot-
er. If candidate is proposed for Of
fee the professional politician knows
his weak and strong points at once
and often his objection saves the party
ticket from a handicap at the start.
It is often the case that men OF no
popularity and sometimes very little
capacity seek a place on the party
ticket If turned down in convention
he becomes sore and as is frequently
the case, bucks the ticket and prac-
tically allies himself with the opposi-
ton. All this will be impossible I'M
der the primary election system, when
a majority of Republican or Democrat
directly as to who will be their nomi-
nees for the general election which
follows. There can be no claim then
that he was turned down by the boss
Is.
1t will be seen, then, that it is the
object of the primary election law to
make the people, so far as possible
responsible for the nominations made
for the various offices.
The best interests of the nation de
mand that the people take more ac
tive part in politics in order that the
evils that have grown up in our sys
tenn of government may be checked
While the primary law of this STATE
can only be made applicable to loca
officers at present, it can be readil!
extended to state officers by the leg
islature Perhaps it was well for {
new state to await it's operation il
older comomnwealths before extend
ing the system to all elective officers
Now is as good time as ever to in
augurate the system in Fergus coun
ty. If the people want to name thei1
own candidates for office unhampere(
by the millionaire's gold and the ma
nipulation of party bosses the primar.
election system provinces the onl!
method of doing it.
Now is the time to act