The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-09-26
THE IDAHO SCIMITAR.

the republican faction that represents their views
1t does not make any practical difference to them
whether law authorizing the abolition of the
and the convention is to be procured at the instance
of the republican the democratic party 1t would be
a law for ALL
Mr. Hepburn now represents on the platform the
opposition to the proposed law other spokesman for
his party having yielded to the logic of events and
given tardy sanction to the coming reform The eff
forts of the campaign will therefore be concentrated
upon the senator who wants to succeed himself and
is endeavoring accomplish his selfish object by
opposing the dearest desire of of the people of
his state
letter written by the senator and addressed to
every republican member of the last legislature has
been reproduced and it contains the same sturdy op-
position to the primary feature that he now exhibits
He told the legislators that he hoped that the egs
ature will to it that the republican organization
is not threatened by any such legislation"
Mr.. Hepburn frank. He did not pretend to
oppose the enactment of a primary law defence
of the interests of all of the people, but stated ex
plicity that he endeavoring to save the republ-
organization from threatened danger The or
ganzaton of any party under modern methods is
the machine He stated that proposed legislation
threatened the machine and succeeded in en1isting
sufficient number of republican members of the 1egis
lature in his cause to save the machine.
1t was in such excellent working condition during
the late convention that it expressed no favor for
the dangerous primary election plan
Mr. Hepburn is exactly right in his contention
though he does not exhibit much political sagacity
in arraying himself against the majority sentiment
of his party The primary election system is an out
growth of long abuse of political power by few
in each state who entrenched themselves behind
party organization SO effectively that they could not
be disodged
The power to govern all the people, and to govern
sefishly and corruptly, could not be wrested from
the scheming few through the medium of the caucus
and the convention, for they in absolute control
of the machinery of every caucus and convention
The only avenue of escape from the tyranny of their
organization through the destruction of the eau
Gus and the convention and the substitution of an
additional election through which all the voters par
ticpate in the election of candidates to be voted for
at the elective election
So, when Mr. Hepburn warned the republican leg
islators in 1906 that the proposed legislation threat
ened the republican organization he stated the case
correctly far he went in his portrayal of cause
and effect. Had he said that threatened all party
organizations Cor machines) he would have been
exact.
1t is from this point that the argument must
proceed If the of Idaho favor the elimination
Of the party machine from governing methods, they
will place their statute books enactment author
zing the substitution of the primary election system
for the and convention system If they prefer
he caucus and convention system, they will do
nothing revolutionary
Mr.. Hepburn tells them that they must not destroy
he party machine and all the party bosses agree with
him. though of them are lacking in the courage
hat prompts him sacrifice himself as the champion
If wrong. Most of them can see that the forces
gathering to sweep away their pet system and to
ave themselves from impending disaster they are