Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1907-02-09
SENATOR HEPBURN EXCEPTS.
WASHINGTON, D. c.,
January %, 1907.

WASHINGTON, D. c.,
January %, 1907.
GEORGE E. HAMILTON, ESQ.,,
Pub. Elk City Mining News,
Elk City, Idaho.
DEAR SIR: l notice an editorial in
your issue of January 9Th, headed, "Sen-
ator Heyburn's Balk.'
think we're you acquainted with what
transpired at the state convention at
Pocatelo in regard to the adoption of the
primary plank in the platform, you would
have expressed yourself differently as to
the facts. You state that was mem
Der of the committee that drafted the
platform on which the party went to
victory in Idaho last election. / was
neither member of the committee or
of the convention. The subcommittee,
however, did me the courtesy to submit
the platform to me before reporting 1T
to the committee of the whole. When
they submitted the plank favoring the
'direct" primaries / took up the ques-
ton with them and gave them my reas-
ons against the ''direct" primary law
and in favor of primary law that
would protect each party against the
encroachment or interference at the
hands of outside parties in the selection
of their candidates and suggested that
the word "direct" be stricken out, not
as you say for the sake of brevity, but
upon complete understanding of the
purpose which l stated at that time.
My suggestion was carried into the
whole committee on the report of the
subcommittee and l am informed by
the members of the whole committee
that it was discussed at great length
and that upon a vote being taken the
plank was, as had suggested that it
be, adopted. do not think that there
was any misunderstanding among the
members of the committee or of the
convention. / have had letters from
many of them who informed me that
they thoroughly understood the grounds
upon which suggested the change and
that they approved Of the reasons which
gave.
Wherever / spoke of the matter, and
l did so frequently during the campaign,
/ explained the difference between a
"direct" primary and a primary and !
explained the attitude of the republican
party on the question. l made point
of talking to the members of the party
through the state on this question and
explaining the difference. l heard no
campaign speaker favor the direct"
primary law although l am now in
formed that some Of them did under a
misapprehension as to the party plat
form. knew the democrats had de-
clared for a direct primary law and
now rightly assume that they were in
harmony with the policy that has been
pursued by the opponents of the repub-
Icon party under various names, it be-
ing their aim to destroy the organiza-
ton of the republican party because that
party stands for principles of govern
ment upon which the prosperity of our
continuance. The principles of central
lied government does not enter into
consideration of the question, when it is
properly understood 1t is the Ameri-
can spirit of government that l am at
tempting to represent. The principles
of the republican party represent all
that is good in this government.
Please recall to your mind that this is
government based upon principles, and
that the people individually speak
through their chosen representatives.
The people cannot all attend the conven-
tons, they therefore select representa-
tive men to speak for them in the con-
vention. The people cannot all attend
the legislature; they therefore select
representative men to speak for them
in the legislature. They cannot all at
tend congress; they therefore adopt the
same rule of representation and so or
up to the highest Office in the land. II
is not to be supposed for moment that
the people are not capable of selecting
their representatives in either or any OF
all of these functions of government
In your issue of January 18th, in the
editorial column, under the heading,
sIt's the Peoples Choice, in regard te
your statements Hereunder, all that