The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-10-25
INSULT TO AMERICAN CITIZEN
SHIP

The Bulletin of this city quotes an
editorial from the Seattle Post-InteIli-
e ncer, which paper takes exception to
some expressions of the Statesman in
regard to the duties of electors either
under the direct primary law or the
convention system, and the expressions
in the P.-I are worthy of some con-
sideration. In order to give them
proper attention it viii be necessary
to first quote again what the Seattle
paper says, which is as follows:
While commenting on the attack
which has been made on the constitu-
tionality of the direct primary law, the
Walla Walla Statesman repeats the
threadbare argument, always used by
enemies of The primary principle, that
it is quite as easy TO elect honest dele
gates to a nominating convention as
it is 70 elect honest men to office; IF
the electors of a precinct says the
Statesman. cannot elect an honest
man for delegate to a convention. how
in the world are they going to select an
honest man for public office?
The trouble about this kind of argu-
ment is hat everybody knows by this
time that the great body of electors
never had anything to do with the Sc
lection of delegates under the old con-
vention system. Not only in this state,
but in every other state, the political
bosses have always named the dele
gates and they have always been ex-
tremely careful to lame only such men
for delegates as would fall in easily
with the ways of the political boss. In
a word, the delegate was a mere chat
tel to be traded and snapped or
bought and sold. according to the need
and ambition of political plunderers.
1T is a rank insult 10 public intelli-
gence to assert. as the Statesman has
that political bosses have remained in
power ohly because electors have re-
fused to participate in elections to
name delegates to conventions. The
politicians, trained in the ways of the
game, and always organized, and al
ways on the alert, and not the electors
have. as rule. named the delegates
Even when the electors have partici-
pated in the selection of delegates. the
Bosses have enjoyed the excep- ional
advantage Of the last throw; they have
manipulated the convention. and in
furtherance of a foul purpose, have not
hesitated in the convention 20 debauch
men of easy inclination.
Say, fellows. how do you like that?
Some of YOU prominent citizens of
Walla Walla county who have attended
conventions, and there are a large
humber of you who consider yourselves
desirable citizens, and are so consid-
cred by he people of this vicinity. How
do you like to be told that YOU We're
mere ohattels. to be bought and sold.
according TO the need and ambition of
political plunderers"? How 90 YOU like
L Re told tina you We're selected by
the political BOSSES and that YOU were
ly with the ways of the political bosses?
That's just what he Seattle paper. as
quoted in the Bulletin. and that paper
quoted correctly, says about you. Are
YOU, as that paper says. men of easy
inclination TO be easily debauched?
Now who has handed ou- the insult,
the Statesman or the Post-Intelligen-
Ger? We leave that for you TO answer.
For ourselves We do no. believe that
the large number of Walla Walla cit
liens who have attended conventions
have all. or even majority of them.
been the kind of man that they have
been painted as being by the Seattle
organ Then when we think of the
vast number of men throughout the
state of Washington who have attend
ed conventions. we find it impossible
10 bring ourselves to the belief that
they have been of the debauched char