The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-05-23
Primary Election Law.

Primary Election Law.
The Oregonian is very much exercised on account
of the primary election law which is in force in the
state of Oregon According to this great journal the
primary election law destroys parties. So violent
is the paper in opposition that it declares the folly
of attempting to be a partisan long the prlm-
ary election law is operative.
The people generally differ with the Oregonian as
to the correctness of the conclusion has come to,
regarding the effect of primary laws. These laws
are in operation in great many states and valid OBJ
jections can be charged against them in their opera
tion but it has not been demonstrated in any state
that they have tendency toward the destruction of
parties. 1t is necessary of course and the tact is
recognized that organization is essential and that
there be parties to represent the organization
The principles for which the people contend who be-
long to the different organizations embodied by
the parties in statements or in resolutions which are
called platforms of principles
1t is necessary too, and entirely proper that those
people who believe in certain principles should Sc
ect individuals and nominate and elect them to office
in order that representative of their principles,
their ideas may be made effective by legislation.
The primary election law is not designed to do
away with, and does not and should not destroy
parties We think the Oregonian errs in confoundng
machines with parties. A machine" is only a
part of party A party is all of the individuals
combined who are contending for the principles.
machine undertakes to control the party, T. e., all
the individuals in it, through manipulation. There
would be no objection to machines if they worked for
high ideals and for the best interests Of the people
Unfortunately however, machines work for thebene
fit of individuals who are part of it, who support
it. and not for the benefit of the people generally
The Oregonians chief objection to the primary law
in that state is to what is known Statement No.
l." Statement No. requires the candidates for the
legislature sign written agreement that If elected
to the legislature they will vote for the candidate
for the United States Senate who receives the highest
vote at the election for this office. Each party
mates the candidates for the United States Senate at
the primaries, so that there is republican and
democratic candidate for the United States Senate;
and the Oregon law provides that at the polls the
voters shall make choice directly by their ballots be-
tween these candidates.
Statement No. 1 requires member OF the leg1sa-
ure to vote for the candidate receiving the highest
number of votes at the polls for the office of United
States Senator
At the election in Oregon two years ago, Mr..
Bourne was the nominee of the republicans and Mr.
Gearin of the democrats for United States Senator
The people voted directly for them at the polls, and
Mr. Bourne received some 5000 more votes than Mr.
Gearin Mr.. Bourne is republican, but all the
democrats in the legislature, complying with state
ment No. l. voted for Mr. Bourne.
Governor Chamberlain is the nominee on the dem
ocratic ticket for United States Senator in Oregon
and Mr.. Cake the republican nominee. Governor