The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-03-28
INFECT PRIMARIES VS.. CONVENTIONS.

DlRECT PRIMARIES rs. CONVENTIONS.
Those who have attended political
conventions are familiar with the
methods by which the nomin atoms
are generally made. Some of the
delegates attend the convention a. the
friends or agents of one of the caudi'
dates for a certain Office, and do all
In their power to secure his nomina-
ton. They will enter into an agree
ment 10 exchange or trade votes with
other delegates who also have a fav-
orite candidate for some other nom.
ination, and when q combination thus
formed IL of sufficient strength, it al
dictate the whole ticket.
Each Of these delegates is supposed
to represent about twenty voters OF
his party in each precinct. but 10
some cases he represents only him.
self or one of the candidates for Office.
Thirty delegates in a political con.
venti0n held 10 Chouteau county a
nominate or turn down any a~spirant
who seeks q position 10 the public
service.
Will anyone venture to assert that
thirty delegates, or less than that
number, in a political convention will
correctly represent the wishes of TWEEN.
ty times that number of the voters Of
their party in Chouteau county:
Ought not the voters themselves, who
will besthe employers of the prospec-
tive county Offici ais, be given the OPP.
p~ortunity to say who shall be the
nominees of their party? The voters
are quite as intelligent as the dele
gates to q convention, quite as capa-
| BILE of making u wise selection of
candid ates, and when casting their
secret ballots in their home precincts
they will be removed from the inilu.
ences that sometimes dominate Il con
vention and control the votes that are
east by many of the delegates.
Who will dispute the proposition
that the right. to elect Il candid ate
should carry with it The right to nom
mate the candidate: If a small pro.
portion Of the voters is empowered to
do the nominating, while the election
of the candidate SO chosen is left to
the voter, generally, it is not ..ditficult
to perceive hat the nominating power
is the more important and desirable.
1t should certainly be in the hands of
the voters.
In discussing the matter of opposi-
ton to the direct primary law, the
Great Falls Tribune makes these per.
tinent remarks:
1t Isl worth the while of the voter
who has not yet made up his mind
fully, to take note of the sources of the
opposition to the primary election
law. Make inquiry and you will find
that there is scarcely a politician o.
any nete who really favors the plan
If he is not in open opposition to it
he is ready to point out to you every
objection he can to the law. The sam
statement holds true of corporation
that are, have been, or are likely Il
be interested In politics. They hav'
no use for the primary election law
Why Is this so? The reason 10 no
far to seek. Their influence befor,
the people is far less effective than i
Is before q convention of delegates
largely made up Of professional poll
ticians and delegates who are thei
friends. Many Of the objection
urged against the primary apply wit
even greater force to the convention
method. There are two salient facts
! however, that ought to weigh strongl
> with the independent and intelligeu
voter. The political bosses and ma
> chimes arc everywhere against primar
election laws and wherever they hav
been tried the people insist on retain
: ing this system. The fact that tn
primary election law tends to consoli
date oil political power in the hand
Of all the people, instead of q few {
y the people, justifies the measure a
sound Jeffersonian democracy.
The Man Who Likes His job