Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1907-02-09
SENATOR HEPBURN ExCEPTs.


Continued from page 4.
alton is the only way the legislature can
meet the requirements of the party
platform and keep the faith of the vot-
ers.
There is now direct primary bill be-
fore the legislature. In an editorial a
column and one-half in length the Boise
Statesman (republican) says: 'Tn
county affairs the conditions are no bet
ter, the people having no idea what the
delegates will do, excepting perhaps as
to one or two candidates. We simply
get bunch of men together supposedly
to represent US and these trade out re-
suits in an effort to land the candidates
in whom they have an especial interest
These conditions give rise to the demand
for direct voting, the principle to which
the party is committed and which is
recognized by the Wyman BILL"
| Senator Hepburn says, IT knew that
the democrats had declared for ''di-
rect primary law and now rightly as
sumo that they were in harmony with
the policy that has been pursued by the
opponents Of the republican party under
various names, it being their aim to de-
stroy the organization of the republican
party. :"
The Mining News finds it difficult in
deed to follow the senator to his con-
clusion on that point. The object of the
direct primary is to give voters more
freedom in electing men to Office. We
think it is conceded by all parties that
most of the public offices are held. by
men who were elected on the republican
ticket. If bringing election nearer the
people will result in the removal of those
men from Office, that in itself is positive
proof that such men are no longer valu-
able as public servants. The Mining
News believes the two great parties are
both laboring in the cause of good gov
eminent, and would be sorry to know
that either one would destroy the other
purely for personal or political gain.
Senator Hepburn cites an instance
where one man got into office through
the primary nomination method and re-
ceived only 26 per cent of the vote cast
at the primaties. That is an improve
ment over the caucus. Does the sena-
tor recall an instance, in recent years,
in precinct of considerable size where
a candidate received the support of so
high a per cent of the voters? In Iowa
the past year, wnere the republican
party was divided, there was an excel
lent opportunity for the public to gain
information on the caucus system. The
Estates" were made up and in many
cases the list of convention delegates
published in opposing papers several
hours before the caucus was held. 1t
seems the injustice of the old-time
custom never occurred to the party pap
ers beforel
The Mining News does not want to
be understood as being antagonistic to
any of Idaho's public men or to either
Of the political parties. This paper has
deep respect for Senator Hepburn.
We recognize the invaluable service he
has been to the state of Idaho and the
nation, and have an abiding faith in his
future actions. Statesmen are not al
ways right any more than the rest OF
the human family. 1t is therefore
wrong to Judge man by single act
1t has, however, looked to this paper
as though there was an effort at the
Pocatello convention to sell the people
!. pig in a sack. This paper has en-.
deavored only to place the understand
ing of the people on the primary plank
in it's true light. We believe the plat
form of the party in power calls for &
, direct primary election law from the
present legislature. That belief is the
same as that of the high authorities we
have referred to in this article. If the
opinion is based on truth and the repub
lican party fails in its promise, wha
guarantee for duty to be performed viii
It be able to give when it again ask!