Washington State journal and Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1906-1907, 1907-02-27
WE NEED DIRECT
PRIMARY LAW.
Other States Have II and 1t Is No Longer
an Experiment Opposed Only
by Political Trieksters.

The following strong editorial con-
cerning the direct primary law appear
ed in recent issue of the Post In
telligencer and is so much to 'the
point" that we give space to it here
for the benefit of our readers. Mr..
Brainard says:
Hearings on the direct primary bill
were held in Olympia yesterday accord
ing to the dispatches from the state
capital. Except as mere formality
and prefunctory compliance with
custom, there is no need for these hear
ings and no popular demand that they
should be had.
The minds of the people of the state
of Washington are made up on this
subject, irrespective Of any hearings
for or against the bill that any leg
islative committees may see fit to hold.
Not only are the minds of the people
of the state of Washington made up
definitely in relation to this great and
most important political measure, but
they are determined that they will
have it precisely for the purposes for
which they want it, in spite of any
factious opposition, secret enmity,
passive resistance or in Indifferent and
languid support which the project may
receive at the hands of anyone.
The people of the state of Washing
ton naturally would not attend the
hearings in Olympia, but if the leg
legislators who are to pass the bill do
not fully realize that they are there
with them in spirit, they may have a
bitter and sickening lesson to Learn.
1t is not necessary for the friends Of
the bill to put in an appearance either
in person or by special representatives
They have already spoken in no un-
certain voice. They have expressed
themselves in positive and emphatic
manner. The desire of the people of
the state for an adequate and sat-
isfactory direct primary law; which
shall return to their hands the power
the conniving, contriving politicians
had stolen from them and have tempor-
arily in their possession; has been
stated in the platform of all parties in
this state and in the conventions of the
counties and cities of Washington.
If the direct primary law were a
measure whose benefits would be con-
fined to one party or another, just
cause might be found for opposition to
carry it into effect. Such is not the
case. In itself, this fact should
operate as warning to some cunning
gentlemen who propose to knife the
measure if they think they can do so
unseen and undetected. Any attempt
of that sort will be exceedingly danger
Gus and will react on the perpetratOr.
AS party measure, the Republi-
cans of Washington are committed to
enacting stong, effective direct pri-
mary law. The republicans are DOM
inant. They will be held responsible
for all failures. There can be and will
be no good reason brought forward to
say why such law should not be pass
ed at once. Any reasons which may be
alleged are and will be evasive, obstruct-
i've, and calculated to prevent the
passage of the direct primary law that
is needed.
Captious criticism is made that only
the rich will be able to run for Office.
This may and should be met by limit.
ing the expenses of any candidate, and
providing a drastic measure penalizing
any person who shall violate the terms
of the sct. 1t is urgeo by some that q
direct primary law is destructive OF
party organization. This argument
need not be dignified by so mild wore
as puerile; it is simply asinine. Ha,
Mississippi no strong Democratic
organization? Has Wisconsin M
strong Republican organization? The.
have strong direct primary laws, ant
so have many other states. The direc
primary law is calculated not to weak
en- but to strengthen party organization
because its operations will tend t.
strengthen the deep, the loyal. the de
voted interest of the true citizen t.
the party to which he belongs, and i
will destroy the disgust which is fel
for so much of the party management
that now is vested in self-constItute'
bosses and other enemies of tn
people. 1t is objected that the news
papers of the large cities will, in effect
become substitutes for party bosses
So far ~ the Post-Intelligencer is cor
. cerned, and it believes it can speal
: for other sincere journalistic support
/ err Of the direct primary law. the les
islature ID welcome 70 surround th
use Of nevspspers BY party candidate
with - rigid and restrictive provision
- Il ought 70 provide sgainst TIE %
Of neasy. A. fer IL di6ersnes b