The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-01-24
WEDNESDAY, JAN. -, 1906.
FOR DIRECT PRIMARIES

What is the desire of ChOuteal
county voters as to the adoption o
the direct primary law? The new
system of nominating political candi
dates has been adopted in Ravalli
county: an election for the purpose OF
voting upon the proposition has been
called in Cascade county: and the
matter is under discussion in Fergus
county. Carbon county and other
parts of Montana. with a view to
submitting it for determination by the
voters.
There is no partisan politics in the
direct primary proposition. as it APP
plies to the nomination of all candi-
dates for county offices to be made by
each political party. The system was
endorsed two years ago by the repub-
lican state platform and the demo-
cratic state platform. Both of these
opposing political parties declared
themselves in favor of direct prima-
ries. Campaign orators of each
party. in their speeches delivered at
various places in Montana. declared
that direct primaries are a good thing.
h at they place the nominating power
in the hands Of the people. and prom
ised that the Legislature would give
the people Of Montana a direct pri-
mary law that would remedy the de-
fects of the old convention method.
A proposition that is a good thing
before an election is also a good thing
after the ballots are cast and counted,
but members Of the ninth Legislative
assembly weakened somewhat on the
direct primary promises of their party
platforms. They passed a law by
which he direct primary method of
nominating certain public officials
may be adopted in any county, pro-
vlded the voters of that county go to
a great deal of trouble to secure that
privilege.
The direct primary law, as enacted
by the ninth legislative assembly.
cannot go into effect in any county
unless a certain number of qualified
voters petition the county commits
sioners to call an election for the
purpose OF adopting or rejecting the
proposition. If the airy number
OF petitioners is secured, an election
for the purpose indicated is called.
and If a majority of the votes cast is
in favor of direct primaries the law
goes into effect at once. The first d.
rect primary election will then be held
on the first Tuesday in the following
September.
For he information of those who
are o familiar with the workings of
the direct primary system, it may be
explained that it provides for the
nomination of candidates by the voters
OF zach political party, instead of by
delegates to conventions as has been
customary heretofore. Provision is
made by which any properly qualified
citizen may become an applicant for
nomination by the voters of his party:
his name is then placed on the pri-
mary ballot, together with the names
OF other aspirants for the same Office.
n the voters OF his party decide
which of these candidates shall be the
party nominee. Under these condi.
tions the several aspirants are
grouped together for the Office they
desire, and the voters select the one
they wish to nominate. The candidate
who receives the largest number of
votes ecomes the party nominee for
that particular Office.
1t is claimed for the direct primary
system that it is an important step
toward government by the people.
NO community of intelligent citizens
would entrust to a few of their number
the duty of marking their ballots on
election day, and it is equally un-
reasonable to allow a few delegates to
meet together in convention and name
the candidates whom their fellow citi-
zens may elect to public office.
1t has been observed at political
conventions that some of the delegates
frequently attend in the interest of a
certain candidate and in order to Sc.
r other support for him they trade
and bargain votes with other dele.
gates who also have a f~avorite
candidate for some nomination..
An aspirant who has few delegate
votes that he can control and trade
for others, is at q great disadvan-
tage under such circumstances, no
matter what his standing with the
voters of his party.
What Is the pleasure of the voters
OF Chouteau county? Do they wish to
continue the practice OF delegating the
power OF nomination to others, or do :.
they feel competent to make such
nominations themselves?