The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1906-02-16


designing tricksters, wild stampede
into which the democratic leaders hoped
to throw republican voters-hoping to
win by obscuring the real cause of the
movement-or, on the other hand, de-
mand based on well theught-out be-
lief that the time had come for them to
wake up and take more thorough in
terest in the party nominations. Back
of it all THE TIMES believes that the
latter is the truth so far as the thinking
voters are concerned. But is it the
truth with the majority9 The thinking
voters have asked for primary reform.
Many more who followed like sheep de-
manded the same thing, but will they
still show an interest?
Do the democrats have any more
missionary work on hand at the present
timer Are they urging people to make
the best use possible of the new pri-
mary privileges? Are they trying to
educate the people to post themselves
ON the new law and bring the nomina-
tons closer home to the people, which
they would have us believe two years
ago was their only end and aim? Now
that it ceases to give them campaign
material are they doing one iota to
further this cause of the people? Not
at all
The fact remains that now that the
people have a primary law which en-
ables them to take more frst-hand
part in making their county, congress
Sonal, and state nominations, there is
need of even more leadership. Every
where there will be public spirited, in
terested, and wide awake citizens who
will try to post themselves in the work
ings of the new law and will attempt to
explain to their fellow citizens and
neighbors what steps will be necessary
for them to take if they wish to take
their new part in politics And,
strangely enough, after thought of all
the democratic eloquence wasted on the
subject two years ago, here again it APP
pears, in the vast majority of individual
cases, that it is to republicans that
falls the work of awakening and edu
eating the people to the possibilities of
the new system. No democrat seems to
care to have the system put into opera
ton i'll his nominating convention.
The feature of the law which cut him
off from voting in the republican pri-
mary seems to have cut out his interest
in primary reform for keeps. AS with
the democracy, as a whole, as soon as it
was evident that there was to be no
chance for them to control republican
nominations, in word that they would
be compelled to mind their own bust
ness exclusively when it came to the
nomination of officers their interest
fell.
But if primary reform has been de-
serted by its most strident advocates,
all true friends of the people, and of
primary reform, should but take up the
matter with the more determination.
Primary reform, and that too as en-
bodied in the new primary law, does
mean much to the people of this state
and of this county The enthusiasm
which the subject called out two years
ago was none greater than the subject
deserved. But it is easier to get en-
thusiastic under the influence of cam
paign oratory than it is to get out to-
the primaries and do ones part in put
ting the new law into operation. The
cause deserves this sort Of work too,
and that right now.
In this connection the simple state
ment to the voters of the eighth district
sent out the first of the month by Con-
gresham J. w. Fordney deserves men,
ton because of the simplicity of the way
in which he puts the matter before the
people. 1t may well serve as an object
lesson to all those who may hope for
preferment at the hands of the people
next fall. To be one of the first to set
the matter before the people as Con-
gresham Fordney has done moreover
shows confidence in the people which
isrefreshing indeed when compared to
the devious methods which some poll
ticians are popularity supposed to make
use of in foisting their candidates upon
an unwilling public. 1t is such open,
frank taking the public into ones conf
dence that will go largely to make pri-
mary reform success.
Congressman Fordney is upon the
right track and from present appear
ances the primary law will receive
trying out in the eighth dis
trict which will be worth more than
whole airships full of democratic cam
paign oratory in giving practical and
tangible results to the people of Mich
gan. THE TIMES would like to refer
the voters of this county once more to
this simple statement of Mr.. Fordney.
Let the republicans of the county
show that they asked in good faith for a
primary reform measure. Let them !
show that they are competent to make !
heir nominations themselves--as they |