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

have said above applies to that editor
ial, but in addition to your former ut
terances you attribute my position as to
what you are pleased to term 1.-THE game
of politics. You will recall the fact
that politics is the science of govern
ment in its proper sense. The people
should all engage in politics personally
and through their representatives.
They should take continual interest in
the government and in the making and
execution of it's laws. You say in your
editorial that it is to be inferred, that
Senator Hepburn cares less for the sue
cess of any particular party at the polls
than he does for the continuance in Office
of certain men who are rarely the choice
of the people, and of whom he himself
is one.
Nothing could be more unjust than
this. have not considered the question
of any individuals chances for obtain
ing or remaining in Office nor shall in
the determination of public questions.
The direct" primary law as known in
Oregon, for instance, is law that sub
jects the people to the schemes and
Vaccinations of those whose sole effort
is directed to obtaining Office. A man
who is RICH enough and Industrious
enough can under that law win nomi-
nation against man who would per-
haps be the peoples choice, if he was
called to their attention. The people of
that state are not at all satisfied with
the law or the manner in which it
works. In another state having such a
law candidate for congress is said to
have secured five of his friends to be
candidates in the outlying districts in
order to divide up the vote while he him
self living in the most populous part of
the district was nominated with only 26
per cent of the vote cast at the primar-
les. could point out number of in
stances in which the direct" primary
law not only does not get nearer to the
people" as some are fond of expressing
it but in fact such a law is a direct
means of defeating the will of the
people, the people never coming to-
gether for the purpose of considering
the relative merits of candidates
throughout the state or county. The
''direct'' primary law which have re-
ferred to, does away with conventions
and no platform of principles is enunci-
ated. The candidate stands for what
he pleases, which is generally the Office.
have been told by some acquaint-
ances and friends, who think along the
lines of your editorial, that the position
have taken would initiate against any
future political ambition which ! might
have. Lean assure you that have not
allowed myself to be influenced at all by
such consideration. / care more for the
success of the republican party and the
principles of government which it stands
for than do for the success of any in
dividual. l have written you thus be-
cause do not believe that you want tc
misrepresent my position or be mistaken
in the facts.
send you herewith a copy of pri
mary law that fully meets the pledges
and expectations of the republican state
convention held at Pocatello. At the
request of some of the members of the
legislature, have drawn this bill merely
as suggestion along the lines which
think would secure fair and honest rep
resentative government, as result Of
the expression of the will of the people
through their representatives at the
convention and at the polls.
Sincerely yours,
w. B. HEPBURN.