Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-08-31
THR nTRRcT PRINfARY

o machine. TWO years ago both OF
the leading parties had planks In
their platforms favorIug the direct
primary. The republicans controlled
the legislature, yet they refuse ia
pass the direct primary law which
they had promised the people. That
was the result OF the power Of the
machine, exerted because such a law
meant the loss OF the power OF the
machine. Some states have succeed
cd In freeing themselves from the
machine. The Scimitar summarizes
the results Of the direct primary in
the following:
I'm Kansas and In South Dakota
the men behind the ballots have
gained control in their respective
states and the medium OF their
emancipation from machine rule was
the primary election system. The
same can be said Of Oregon and the
primary system will give the anti
e0ropOFationists in Iowa a victory
now that Allison, OF respected mem
0ry, IL out Of the way. He was a
pacihcator and was acceptable to the
corporation machine, while long SER
vice had endeared him to the anti
corporation faction Of his party.
In the states Of the middle west
the primary election system Is loosen
ing the hold OF the bosses and the
tyranny Of corporation government is
departing along with their downfall.
"A summary Of disasters to the
machine system in the states OF Kan.
sas, South Dakota and Moth Dakota
was given in recent Washington
letter to the Boise Statesman, In
which Senators Long, KlttrIdge and
HansbFouEh we're placed In the line
up ~ examples Of what IL pretty
certain 70 happen 10 powerful rail-
road bosses when the machinery or
party Ii wreated from their control
"Aa the republicans OF Idaho are
about to hold convention under the
auspices OF q machine that represents
an alliance Of corporate and eCcelesi.
astical interests, the story OF the es-
cape from bondage or three import
ant states possesses interest. From
Kansas and South Dakota two pro.
nouneod rofofmeFs. both republican.
viii take the place OF two subservlent
members Of the senate. who were
placed IN once and kept In Office
notorloualy through railroad influ-
ence.
THE result Of the uprising In
North Dakota can not yet be told
accurately, for lts primary election
aystem has not been perfected. the
machine having tempered with the
bin while Il was on les way through
the legislature and extracted some
Of ita most effective commands. So
the Issue IL yet to be fought out be.
tween the several candidates who
we're voted for on primary election
day.
Senator Hansbrough Ia out Of the
contest on account OF a light vote
for him. and II II an important fact
that. although he has been the crea-
ture Of the corporation machine since
the dawn OF North Dakota statehood.
he was defeated partially by the eff
forts Of the railroad boss OF the state.
He weakened at the last moment and
Joined the reformers. though he was
reeklng with the accumulated corpo-
ration sins OF a score OF years. aud
some Of the refoFmers Joined hands
with the disappearing machine and
tumbled him into oblivion.
mr., HaRabrough has had no opln-
Tens Of his own since he donned the
robea Of public service. yielding sub
aervient allegiance to the interests
under compact with the AldFloh sena-
torlal oligarchy. He has never IN
any sense represented the constltu-
eEley OF great northwestern Agrlcul.
tural state. always taking his IN.
structions from the corporation boss.
Alex. Mckenzie. the central figure Ia
the celebrated Nome gold mines re-
eelveFahip case, who went for a time
into the retirement OF = San Fran.
cisco jan and has been handed down
e posterlty IS the hero OF a WELL
known BIT OF Action entitled The
such has been the inspiration that
has gained Mr.. Hanshrough's sena-
toElAl course and II Il not at an
surprising that the hard wheat grow
eFs cf his home state have risen
against the methods he has exempli-
ned.
''The rescue o. North Dakota from
ne demoralizlng control OF the Great
and Northern Pacific cor
porationa Ia not quite complete. The
teAh e,k41 IA Hmfmha.a Asswfnas kka nnr,.