The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1908-05-14
A Communication.
Mr.. Editor:

J
among our people, of the Primary Sys-
tenn, In nominating public officers.
There is no question, arv longer as to
what the people desire along this line
of reform and as you seem to favor the
move, would like to invite some furth-
er discussion.
A sentiment is nothing unless it be
crystalized into definite program, for
successful action and while | know from
direct conversation, with a majority of
the mem bers Of the committee, that 1t
favors initiating the Primary in the
coming county campaign, some of them
hesitate, first because they doubt its
legality and second, they desire to feel
that it is what the people drsire.
AS to the first, the law is explicit and
compels all nominations for Office to be
made either by delegate convention,
or by petition. So the United States
constitution provides for the people to
vote only for Presidential Electors,
while they in turn are bound by no
statute law to vote for any particular
man for President, yet no elector has
ever been known to vote for any other
than the person for whom he was chos
en- to elect.
The constitution of every state in the
Union provides for the election of U.
S. Senator by the legislature, yet almost
fo,, al 90 Lo ~, no la
lature by popular vote of the people.
Two years ago Senator Borah went
before the people, asking that the con-
vention would speak on his candidacy
and direct the coming legislature to vote
for him. Judge Beatty who was then
a candidate, used this very argument,
Of it being illegal and an attempt to
take away from the legislature what
was It's by law. This was not direct
primary, but it was as near to it as was
at the time possible, and not one mem
her of that legsla' ure ever thought OF
disobeying the mandate.
These are always for the people to
have what they want: it only there is
some one to direct. The law now di-
rects the committee to hold primary
elections; elect delegates by ballot, to a
| county convention to nominate candi-
| dates. Since the machinery is now all
| provided, let me ask, when the elector
has voted in his precinct for delegates
why he can not, there and then cast
| his vote in another box directly for the
| persons he desires nominated Let this
vote be certified up to the convention
and ask the convention ITO make the
nominations under the law as the PEG.
pie have directed by their ballots. No
delegate would be so foolish as to dis
regard this any more than Presiden-
tial Elector would disregard the vote
of the people who elected him.
This is simple and right and the Re-
publicans Of this county will be In poll
tics, as the people are In everything
else, about twenty five years ahead OF
the rest OF the state.
There was time when the conven-
ton was great reform and closer to
the voice OF the people than the old
way but today it is simply game OF
shrewd manipulation. Those who have
learned to handle the convention, dread
the innovation of the Primary because
of the vast difference between politi
cal boss and a genuine political leader
i AS to the committee being justified
| In adopting the primary this fall 1t oc
| ours to me, from a few meetings | have
attended and the results of the Buh
convention, for them to refuse would
he wrong that there can be no danger
Of them committing.
The Bull convention was like man
others have attended; no better, N
worse. I had no friends to re
ward or enemies to punish and my sol
and only object in attending was to con
= NIT our party to this principal, that
thoroughly believe in.
! Many explanations are now given a
to why the small minority fought S
vigorously against the adoption OF m
resolution for the Primary and to b
candid havnt the least idea myself.
We are now all satisfied that ther
was a genuine voice of the people
there expressed for the resolutions, S
why not heed it and all join in hell
ing hand to bring 1t about.
There will grow up many abuses {
the primary, when adopted, and 8
> these abuses show themselves thew wi
7 have to be checked and reformed.
have talked with probably over a hui
dred on the subject and have found jul
three to express themselves against i
Yet with this unanimous sentimen
these few can easily prevent It's adoT
ton unless the matter be kept 80 befor