The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-08-06
THE PRIMARY LAW AND ELEC-
TON OF SENATOR.

After a fair trial of the direct prim-
airy law in oregon, the provisions in
regard to the election of United
States senator appear to have been
unsatisfactory, as indicated by the
comment of the press throughout the
state. The attack on the law appears
to be directed to the clauses provid-
ing for the statements to be signed by
legislative candidates.
Provision is made that the candidate
may sign Statement No. l." which is
a pledge to support in the Legislature,
the popular candidate for senator, re-
CARELESS Of political party. state
ment NO. g" is declaration that the
candidate will only consider the vote
of the people as Recommendation.
THE candidate may refuse to sign
either statement but at the last cleo
ton in Oregon 1t was almost impossi-
BILE for a man to be elected without
having signed Statement No. l." as
the people looked upon refusal to
do so as an absolute refusal TO abide
by the will of the people"
In an able editorial on the direct
primary law the Oregonian discussing
the features of the election of a United
States senator and, in view of the
fact that the state of Washington is
to- try a similar law at the next cleo
ion ard since the Oregonians have
h. re
of the law, the editorial, which fol-
lows, is worthy of consideration by the
people of this state.
The Oregonian is not opposed to
the primary election law. 1t never has
opposed it. But it always has said
that even if the candidate of any party
for the United States senate should
receive a plurality of the votes, in a
general election, it would be absurd
to suppose the legislature would elect
him. if the majority of the members
of that body had been elected by the
opposite party. The people are not
going to consent to any scheme or
practice for abolition of party distinc-
tons or purposes: and under our sys-
TEN popular vote. or vote of the
people, is neither the lawful nor recog-
nized manner of election of United
States senators. No state law. no
state practice. cal make it so.
Nor do statutes of Oregon, foolish
and crazy as our statutes are in many
ways. essay such tomfoolery. Two
sctn tS- oil If
which the candidate for the legislature
may take; Or he may take neither of
them. The law can create no obliga-
ton as to his vote for senator, nor
does it attempt such thing. We have
on our statute-book no end of silly
Observation-Disclosures attempts to en-
force luracies and impossibilities-bu'
nothing else so absurd as lot of blat-
ant factionists are trying to read into
the referendum and primary election
laws
The party whose members are ma
jority in the legislature will always
elect the senator. till the method OF
election of senators provided by the
constitution of the United States shall
be changed. To take the vote of The
people on senator is serviceabl,
method, and may do away with tn,
scrambles in the legislature, or mos
of them; for the members of the diff
ferent parties will thus be pledged t.
their parties choice for senator, bu
never to the choice of the opposition
party-unless they are foolish enough
to pledge Statement No. l." which
however, they are under no legal O
moral obligation to take.
1t may happen, and probably will
happen, at one time or another, tina
a candidate may fail 70 get majorit,
of the popular vote, while the part,
for which he stands may have electe,
a majority of the members of the legis
nature. In such case it will develop OF
the legislative majority TO decid
whether it will elect the man who ha