Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-09-05
PEOPLE WANT
DIRECT PRIMARY
Says French, and Party is Weak
ened by Turning it Down.


ent republican congressman. the La
tab delegation returned from the re-
publican state convention last even
ing. where they Witnessed the de-
feat Of their leader. who was sacri-
need In the greatest insurgent up
heaval ever known in Idaho poll
tics.
Despite the fact that Mr.. French
was sacrificed in the most peculiar
political alliance ever formed in the
state of Idaho. he returns enthusl-
astically declaring that he will labor
for the ticket and stump the state
for its election. The delegates from
Latha county. however, declare that
their candidates defeat was eneom-
passed wholly through political
treachery.
Congressman French gave out the
following interview
Platform and Ticket.
The republican party has adopted
a good platform and named a splen-
did ticket. And | believe will meet
with the approval of the party in
the election. Colonel Hamer, who
was nominated for congress over me,
is a splendid man. one OF the ablest
public speakers in the state and will
be elected congressman from Idaho.
He has my hearty support. and
shall make complete campaign
throughout the state In the interest
of the national and state tickets.
The platform, as adopted, is a strong
one, but believe. II would have been
strengthened had 1t contained d.
rect primary plank. Two years ago
| eampaigned the entire state, and
In nearly every speech urged a
direct primary law. believe now
that our party was at that time
pledged to the enactment of such
a law. The masses of the people.
regardless OF party. desire that law
and unquestionably whichever party
may be in control OF the next legls-
lature a strong effort will be made
to enact this legislation"
What about the delegates from
Shoshone, Nez Perez and Blaine
counties who were instructed for you
and who broke their pledges in order
to support Colonel Hamer?" Mr..
French was askel.
On that question" said Mr.
French, there is little that care
to say The vote of the ~ delegates
from shoshone county who went
back on their instructions would have
given me the nomination, and the
votes OF Nez Perez county would
have more than done the same. AS
to any explanation of the repudia-
ton | will leave that to them to ex-
plain to the citizens of their respec-
tive counties. who instructed them
and sent them as delegates to the
Advocates Direct Primary.
That Mr. French is an active sup
porter Of the direct primary law was
evidenced by a speech which he de-
liYered to the convention IN reply
to Senator Heyburn's remarkable
In which he denied the
people the right TO instruct their
servants as 10 any proposed legisln-
ton. In this speech, which was
cheered to the echo. Mr.. French Is
reported to have said that the sue
cess OF the republican party is due
primarily not to the promises made
but TO the fidelity with which the
republican party has kept promises.
and that no party is big enough or
strong enouuh to declare for policies
that Il does not intend to keep. He
said that il this policy was not ad-
hered 20. Senator Hepburn might
fall under the words OF his own doc
trine. which he advocated in bis
speech against a direct primary
Law.
In concluding his speech Mr..
French declared that any party
should have due care for the prom
lses Il makes. but that once made
they should. be fulfilled and only in
this way can the peoples confidence
be retained