Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1907-01-12

10 SUCH d law. LII oul STATE platform
we declared in favor of primary cleo
ton law, and / do not doubt but that
the convention that adopted the plat
form fully believed that they, as fully
as conventions may, had committed the
party to the direct primary idea. I
believe the convention so intended, and
discussed in the campaign as a party
doctrine the direct primary idea. 9th
ers who took part in the campaign did
the same. Every mention of the ques-
ton in the republican press of the state
that came to my notice assumed that
the party was pledged to this law.
More than this, no one, so far as I am
aware, publicly stated that the party
was not so pledged. In view of this it
hardly seems fair to the people for the
republican party to say now that Sit is
not obligated to direct primary cleo
ton law. The election is over. The
people have spoken, and believe that
they will not be disappointed in their
wish that primary election lava
direct primary law be given them.
'There are those who say that it will
do away with conventions, and so with
party lines and party ideas. / do not
see it at all that way. Why should it
do away with conventions? If most
people belonged to political parties for
the sake of an Office, or, if most people
attended political conventions seeking
nomination, such might be the case.
But this is not true. Most people be-
long to political parties because they be-
lieve in them. And most delegates at
tend political conventions without any
hope or even desire of receiving a
nomination. More than this, most of
those who aspire to a nomination belong
to their party because they believe in it.
Then why should the adoption of direct
primary law cause political parties to
degenerate or to stand for nothing? On
the other hand conventions, being re-
lieved of the task of nominations, would
have more time for the consideration of
great questions. l might also say that
at the very time the primaries would be
held, delegates might be elected to at
tend conventions.
''No one can deny that the republican
national convention two years ago was
an enthusiastic convention. Yet it was
foregone conclusion that Roosevelt
would be nominated. Idaho was en-
titled to but six delegates in that con-
vention, yet she could have sent many
times that number had she been permit
ted to. In 1900 every body conceded
that President Mckinley would be re-
nominated. His nomination was also
conceded in 1896 long before the conven-
ton met. In 1900 almost everyone be-
lieved that Bryan would be nominated
by the democratic convention. Yet all
these conventions were enthusiastic con-
ventions. They did not choose candi-
dates, for the known sentiment of the
respective parties had chosen them.
They did, however, frame platforms
and outline policies, and they men
toned the candidates that popular
sentiment of the people had chosen. So
it would be in our own state should we
adopt direct primary law. Our con
ventions would ratify the expressed
wish of the people and would outline
policies. That these conventions would
be largely attended, have no doubt.
''True it is, mistakes have been made
in some primary laws. In some states
certain features have been open to criti-
cism. This argues nothing if in some
states the law works well. The objec-
tionable features can be avoided, and
the criticism and discussion of these
features should help us in framing a
more perfect law The law has worked,
not only well but splendidly, most every
place where it has been tried. 1t is do
ing it's part in the elimination of cor
ruption and vice and raising still higher
the standard of our citizenship"