East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-03-10

T w. Davenport, of Silverton,
father of the cartoonist, Homer Dav-
euport and a keen and far-seeing poll
itician. writes as follows of the old
methods of nominating candidates for
office. Following is a portion of an
excellent article in the last weeks
Silverton Appeal:
It is asserted by persons opposed to
the direct primary law. that it costs
the people $4,000 more than the old
way.
This must consider a baseless as
sumption. for although the cost of the
direct primary is pretty we'll determ-
ined. the cost to the commonwealth
OF the old system was never known or
could be known; then how can 1t be
shown that there is a difference OF
$4,000?
Now. Notwithstanding the fact that
one can be estimated in dollars and
cents. and the other is incompatible
in ike denominations, l think there
is no difficulty in comparing the two
systems and arriving at an undouoted
conclusion that the old system Is tar
more expensive than the new one.
And to begin. the loss of time to the
people in the work of the direct pri-
mary is no greater than the other;
SO that is even. Then comes the
county and state conventions which
are supplanted by the new method
and their cost eliminated.
There are SS counties in the state
and the cost Of holding that many
conventions and a state convention
composed of not less than 100 dele
gates each. in all probably as many
as 5000 persons, paying board travel
ing expenses and other incidentais'
aggregating-how much less than
100000? which somebody has to pay
and the question is, who pays the ollIF
The political party? No, verify! Ihe
delegates pay it at the time, but how
Do they get even?
Or are they self-sacrificing parties
working to establish their principles
for the common good? Not on your
life. They are aspirants to office or
working for those who are, and expect
remuneration in some way at some
time not far ahead. They constitute
q prospective army Of invasion. upon
the commonwealth, as everybody
knows.
That such an army has been sus-
tanned at public expense for the last
so years is as evident as any other
human fact. for armies without pay
or the prospect OF pay, soon disband.
II American politics had not paid its
Yotaries It would not have required
any direct primary or other law TO
end II.
Politics. as foreigners truthfully de-
scribe It, is the great American in
dustry.
But to proceed; the candidates for
office have been selected, and now
the work Of assessment begins. Mem
hers Of the lower house Of the legis-
lature are assessed 500 apiece; sena-
tors $40. To pay convention expen-
ses2 No: the money goes into the
party fund to be spent by the manag-
ers, who never explain how or what
or 10 whom it is disbursed-a wholly
unnecessary proceeding, as they are
all honorable men.
The members Of the legislature re-
ceive a per diem Of SO for 40 days
S12O-and out Of this come their
board and wash bills, so that their
assessment amounts to nearly half the
remainder.
As they cannot avoid the assess
ment and be partizans, the question
arises, is this system conducive to the
practice Of economy in their legisla-
tive career?
Does it incline them to refuse
railroad pass, get along without abun-
dance of clerks, refuse newspapers