Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-01-23

all the present dishonesty cannot ex-
ist in the choice of candidates If the
primary election bill becomes a law.
Now If this were true there would
be at least one good reason for the
adoption of the new plan There is
basic principle of the American gov
ernment that impresses itself upon the
people of the land. 1t is that the gov
eminent derives it's just powers from
the consent Of the governed. If the
electors are corrupted by the use of
money or other emolument their votes
do not express their best Judgment.
1t Is not pleasant for patriotic Amer
leans to reflect and admit, even to
themselves, that there is corruption
in American politics, but in some
parts of the country the evidence
is SO potent that it Is useless to deny
its existence. In Pennsylvania a sys-
tenn of ring rule has sprung UP during
the last several years. that was sud
denly unmasked as one of the greatest,
most powerful and most vicious organs
of corruption in the whole country.
Philadelphia was it's hotbed Pittsburg
teemed with graft. Harrisburg, the
capital, was full Of dishonesty The
ring ruled the state with an iron hand
and the ringsters waxed opulent and
independent.
Wise men in Philadelphia, men who
desired to wrest the control Of the
ticlans, urged the adoption of pri-
mary election law. Honest men were
overjoyed Not only was this some
thing new, but it promised to serve a
good purpose. 1t promised to "the
people" the control of elections and
of nominations. THE people" is a
phrase that is popular with men who
desire, for one purpose or another, to
curry favor with the masses of the
voters. More wrong has been done in
America in the name of "the people"
than can be atoned for by those who
have done it in many lifetime.
But, to return to Pennsylvania. The
primary election law found favor with
the voters The slogan. Down with
the machine" was popular one.
And now it has been tried, and
found wenting-found worse than the
old plan of caucus and convention, 1t
has been found that the new idea puts
a premium on dishonesty and acts as
insurance and assurance to the currupt
ring. 1t is, in short, all it should not
be.
Ponder the following extract from a
telegram which was published In the
Courier's news columns a few days
ago, coming from Pittsburg.
"Pittsburg millionaries, by wholesale
bribery and corruption unparalleled
even in Pennsylvania politics, brought
about the victory Of their candidate,
Alexander M. Jenkinson, himself a
millionaire, and a stogie manufacturer
at the primary election for the nomina'
ton Of a republican candidate for
mayor Saturday, according to the fol
lowers Of William A. Magee, the rival
candidate. 1t is charged that hundreds
of thousands of dollars were expended
| that ballot boxes were stuffed, and that
! Magee men were unable to vote, In
many instances for their candidate.
Alexander M. Jenkinson is the man
who, according to Homer L. Castle
candidate for governor, is at the head
of the plot of millionaires and great
corporations to seize the reins of gov.
ernm ent in this city, then in this and
luduy OlpOl oColCo, GIN. e1I AoDC Gun
control of the federal government, with
the view Of running the country fol
the benefit Of the trusts"
4 Does that look like honesty? Does
it look like "the people" for whom the
law was, ostensibly, made a part OF
the statutes, were prof1ting by reason
of it's existence? Does it not prove
that with money behind it, ring car
absolutely control primary elections
Does it indicate that any evils can be
abrogated by the adoption of this new
idea? Does it not argue against Iowa's
making the error that Pennsylvania
has already made?
| In theory, the primary election idea
is a good one In theory, also, a man
can reach the pole by con
tinuing straight northward from
the limits of civilization, but
lives and fortunes have been sac
rif1ced and bold men have been beaten
in repeated attempts to prove that in
practice it Is possible to demonstrate
the theory. So in the case of the pri
mary election; though 1t looks good Il
has failed repeatedly in practice tc
/ serve the ends for which it was in
tended. Manifestly, it is one of the
new "isms" that should be handled
with gingerly touch, scanned closely
| and finally discarded. 1t is not prac
tical.
DROPPING THE FILIPINO.
Congressman Nicholas Longworth
recently made speech in the house o.
I -. H.s