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

interpreted by campaign speakers, the
press and the voters, with very few ex-
ceptions. to mean that the republican
party pledged itself to enact direct
primary election law at the present ses-
sion Of the legislature.
Let us see who is right:
Senator Hepburn corrects the state
ment as to his position in the conven-
ton. He was neither member OF the
convention or of the official committee,
but was one of that body known in poll
tics as the Storage committee" He
writes that the primary plank was sub
mitted to him, and that the word "di-
rect was not stricken out, as was said,
for the sake of brevity, "but upon
complete understanding of the purpose
which stated at that time" The Min
ing News got its information on that
point from communication from Editor
Avery C. Moore of the Weiser World,
who was the father of the primary plank.
Following Senator Heyburn's letter from
Washington, communication from Mr..
Moore appeared in nearly every one of
the daily papers of the state, in which
Mr.. Moore stated the word direct"
had been stricken out Sin the interest
of brevity." Mr.. Moore thought at the
time that the alteration did not change
the spirit of the plank, and states he is
of that opinion still.
Let's see how the primary plank was
treated by campaign orators and the
press, and how it was regarded by vot-
ers before election. On this point Sen
ator Hepburn and the Mining News ap-
pear to hold directly opposite views, al
though Senator Hepburn confesses he
has been informed that some of the
party speakers did speak for direct"
primary, ''under a misrepresentation as
to the platform. The campaign was
the first in Idaho that the editor of this
paper had witnessed at short range, and
he naturally observed closely the ma
neuverings of both parties. He had an
excellent opportunity. The best news
papers in the state and many in adjoin-
ing states cone to the Mining News ex-
change table. Many of these papers
used the speeches of party leaders in
supplemental form, as furnished by the
republican central committee. We
said in our issue of January 5th, and
we say it now, that speakers, the press
and the people generally took the plat
form as a direct" primary platform.
Senator Hepburn says he conducted an
educational campaign on the question
wherever he spoke. The Mining News
remembers well the part the senator
took in the campaign, and his seeming
fairness and decided stand in his discus
sions led us to regard him as far and
away the most able man in the cam
paign.
But was the senator's educational
campaign on the primary question ar
effective campaign? Did he convince
the voters, the press, the governor anc
the men who are now making our laws
at Boise that the platform did not cal
for a direct primary law? The Min
ing News thinks not, and offers the fol
lowing reasons to prove its opinion:
Senator Hepburn amendment to the
primary plank was not accepted by the
father of the plank as change in it.
spirit.
The direct primary was preached
by the press and by campaign speaker,
before election.
Then came the election.
Governor Gooding's message to tn,
legislature contained this recommends
ton: 1.-THE people of Idaho, in my judg
ment, have a right to expect of thi
legislature the passage of direct pri
mary election law, giving them an op