The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-09-12
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. II, 1906.
THE DIRECT PRIMARY LAW.

The first test Of the Montana direct
primary law in ChOuteau county and
other parts of the state, demonstrates
that a few sections Of the law require
amendment. These defects were rec
ognized as SOC as the provisions of
the law we're open to public scrutiny,
and ia 10 way reflect upon the pur.
pose of its enactment. The principle
of direct nominations by the people is
not affected by careless or unwise
construction of the machinery by
which It is frst:put into operation.
This was the experience with the
Australian ballot law as originally
enacted by a Montana legislative as.
sembly some fifteen years ago. 1t
contained provisions which, when put
to practical test, we're found &c be de.
f~ective, and several amendments to
that law have since been made. A
similar course of treatment is required
for the direct primary law, to effect
the purpose in view-the nomin alton
Of candidates by the voters of each
political party.
The most serious defect in the law
is the provision which enables any
voter TO mark the ballot of q political
party with which he is not in sympa-
thy. Each voter, upon entering the
polling place. receives the ballots of
other political parties in addition to
that Of his own, and it Is left to his
political honesty to mark only the
ballot of the party to which he be-
longs. The result Of this defect in
the law appearsiin the Chouteau coun-
ty primary election returns, the figures
showing that about 80 per cent. of the
democratic voters marked republican
ballots, thus taking part in the nom.
ination of republican candidates.
This form Of political trickery ap-
pears to have been practiced in nearly
every precinct in the county, the re-
turns showing that only about 10 per
cent. of the democratic vote of two
years ago was cast for democratic
nominees at the recent primary cleo.
ton.
No reasonable person will contend
that the voters of one political party
should be permitted to participate in
in nominating the candidates of q pc.
litical Iparty to which they are OPP
posed. but the defective provision Of
the direct primary law gives them that
opportunity. In Chouteau county,
with a strong republican majority,
most of the democratic voters marked
republican ballots: in Broadwater
county, where the democratic party IL
the more powerful, many republican
voters marked the democratic ballot.
Under these conditions, voters of the
minority party may succeed in effect.
ing the nomination of the weakest
candidates OF the opposition party,
for the purpose of defeating them at
the general election.
The remedy for this defect is an
amendment TO the law, providing that
the voter receives only the ballot of
the political party to which he be.
longs. This would not in any way
violate the secrecy of the ballot: he
could vote for whom he pleased among
the aspirants ia his own party. Tn.
der the old primary system, no repub-
lican is permitted to take part in a
democratic primary: no democrat is
allowed to figure in the proceedings Of
a republican primary. Similar con-
ditions should be assured under the
direct primary law.
Another feature of the law to which
objection has been made is the re.
qairement regarding signatures to
nomination papers. The purpose of
this provision is to prevent the filing
OF nominations by irresponsible and
unsuitable persons, and prevent the
crowding Of the ballot with names of
candidate who would have no pos.
sible chance of nomination. The de.
sired result could be secured by maxi
ing it optional with the aspirant to
secure the signatures now required, or
20 file his nomination with the county
clerk by paying a fee of &c. 90 or some
other amount that would discourage
attempts to complicate matters by ill.
ing nominations with other than o
bona fde intent to secure nomination.
When these defective features of the
direct primary law are given proper
attention-and it is hoped the tenth
legislative assembly will improve its
provisiOns-the voters Of each 30.
litical party will be better able TO
nominate candidates who are the
choice of their party.