Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1908-02-25

lpast taken only a passive interests,
and have supported good men. re-
gardless OF their stand on that ques-
tion.
II Il All right for individual can.
didaies for the legislature TO take
such position on that matter as may
seem right 70 them, and let the vot-
ers Of their party decide whether
their qualifications in other respects
counterbaIance or outweigh any OBJ
jectlons there may be on that score,
bat for the party organization to de-
clare that The advocacy OF the peo-
pies supremacy shall disquallfy a Re
publican or recognition, ~ making
an alternative which a great many
men will accept the injury Of the
RepubIican ticket
oregon has the primary law and
many other states are adopting II as
the bcst means 70 desired end
The Republican party and Republi.
can legislatures have for years pass
cd resolutions demanding such
change IN our national laws as would
insure the election OF United States
sjnators by popular vote Oregon
has law which makes such cleo
tion a possibility by It's practictl
application, and now the leaders
the supposed spokesman, OF the Re-
publican party propose 20 defy, tol
nullify that by a brazen subterfuCe.
Such Is not the road TO Republican
success II the party has not the
men and this principles that will ee-
ment ita membership in harmonious
unity. thus insuring a full support
az tho polls I'm June for It's candidate
selected at the primaries In April,
then the party IL IN a sorry plight
and the people OF oregon are entitled
10 such representation at Washington
as they by plurality or majority vote
may decide. All the speciona rea-
soninE about a multiplicity OF oandi-
dates and about the small margin
and small percentage OF votes by
which a nomination can be made,
has no place In substantial argument.
our entire system OF choosing on
ciala is based upon pluralities and
In these days OF multiplicity OF par
ties very few OF those elected can
boast OF clean ma .ority. OF course
in deliborat've assemble. whore re-
petition OF voting II a possibility.
majority 10 made necessary TO a flnal
choice. but IN popular elections this
cannot be. ana IN the choice OF pub.
lie servants. the popular will, ex-
pressed by the secret. untrammeled
ballet. will always be Ia the United
States the highest aud best author
ny.
The strongly Republican leglsla-
lures OF 1905 and 1897 did not dare
20 rcpal or amend the primary law.
whyf Because they knew that pub.
lie opinion would not sanction Il. ana
they, as representatives Of that opin.
Ton. reflected Il BY non-lu;erferenee
Until there exists such a public de.
mand. or az least an acquieseenee,
the party II endangcrlng its success
by attempting 10 nullify che law, The
people win not readily surrender at
tained rights aud priyiieges. Tho
proper course IL 60 educate them In
the proper exercise OF these rights,
Republicans can he retained In earn.
est loyalty by a faithful adherence
90 good laws aud principles. by ae-
cording to the masses full share oi
responsibility and calling for nniYef.
sal attention TO the preliminary steps
hearing upon elections and upon Law
making. When this course is con.
slstently pursued for a few years.
the people will be glad 10 see thei-
Legislature so amend the law that
Il will be shorn Of ita clumsy features
ana brought 10 a wording better A.
Ted 10 our general system
Hat the people viii not take Kind.
~ 20 an attempt by the Republican
Organization 20 wipe out the law and
return 60 a system which Is discr, a.
tied and adhered, 90 slow. semitic
men.