The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-03-07
WEDNESDAY, MARCH. z, 1906.
THE DIRECT pRIM AIRY LAW.

1t is a matter OF surprise that tn,
State, an independent publication is
sued by DR.. W. G.. Eggleston, o.
Helena, should attempt to inject par.
tisanship into the direct primary pro-
position. The editor of the State was
among the first to advocate direc,
primaries in Montana, and is still
urging the new method of ating
political candid ates. but in a recent
issue of his paper appears this mis-.
leading allegation:
"FOr some reason unknown to the
State the Democratic papers of Mon
tana are not advising that the Primary
Nomination law be adopted in the
counties. Republican papers in many
parts of the state are working for the
adoption of the law in their various
counties, but it looks as if the Demo-
cratic papers We're suspicious of it.
1.-THE law is by no means perfect,
but it Is a good beginning. The Re.
publican caucus was not willing to
trust the people to nominate state
officers or candidate for the United
States Senate, but the fault can be
mended hereafter. The Democratic
papers are not finding fault with the
law, but at the same time they are not
advocating its adoption by the coun-
ties. Is it a good law for the Repub-
lican party and a bad law for the
Democratic party? Or will the adOp-
ton of the law seriously interfere with
the nomination of legislative candi.
dates who can be depended on to vote
for w. A. Clark for the Senate If they
are elected?"
This is q most unjust reflection upon
the intelligence and good repute Of
several Montana democratic newspa-
pers that favor a direct primary law
and are working earnestly for its
adoption in their respective counties.
In Cascade county, in Fergus and
Valley counties, and ia other parts
OF Montana, the democratic newspa-
pers are just as favorable to the NOM
ination of candidates by popular vote
% are their republican contemporaries,
and have given large space in their
columns to a discussion OF the new
law In which its d vantages and de.
fects were presented to the public.
In some parts of Montana-in couu.
ties where corporation or other inau.
c usually dictate the nomin att ons
made by each political party-the;
newspapers, both democratic and re.
publican, are not advising the adop.
ton of the direct primary law. These
peWspapers are not maintained by
their proprietors for any such pur.
pose. As the agents or representa-.
lives Of corporate interests that run
the local political machines, these
newspapers are not expected to assist
In securing the adoption of . reform
70 which their owners are opposed.
1t is not to the interest of these cor.
porations to increase the political
power OF the people, and that will be
the effect of the direct primary law
proposition.
One OF the most amusing cases of
to the: direct primary law
is that of the Havre Plaindealer, which
makes the absurd allegation that the
law was passed to suit the cor.
that are opposed to its
adoption, and whom it deprives of
of their present political pull.
The Havre critic also intimates that
River Press favors the law be.
cause it will require the printing of
and other supplies which the
will not furnish, although
advocacy of direct primaries has been
q prominent feature of the River Press
columns for several years past. That,
however, is the Plaindealer's usual
way of looking at things. What more
could be expected from a newspaper
that sold its political convictions (D
for land Office patronage?