The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1908-10-01
PEOPLE MUST RULE.
Chairman O'Neil Declares for Direct
Primary.

mary question, dIter having nAu MS
attention called TO the issue which had
been raised in the Capital News
''The people must rule. They must
rule, not as few men would have
them rule, but as in their best judg
ment, conforming to representative |
self-government, they should rule. If, |
in their experience, it is demonstrate
ed that the highest purpose Of gov
eminent for the people md by the
people is not attained to its fullest ex-
tent, and that under constitutional
principles there is a way in which
this defect may be remedied, it is a
right, inherent in the very conception
Of this nation, that suffrage should
not be limited by mere previous GUS
! tom, but should be expanded to meet
| the popular requirement.
1.-THE direct primary, so constructed
as to actually. as we'll as theoretical
| ly, give the people a greater voice in
their own government, is the present
almost universal demand, and the fact
that it is so general argues in favor
of It's necessity.
when the proposal of direct pri-
mary law was first presented to me
it was construed in such a light as to
warrant my hesitation in accepting 1t,
but now, as l understand the posi-
bilities of it's better application, | am
wholly convinced Of it's benefits and
practibility. Mistakes have been made
in other states, but they do not un-
dermine the fundamental principle up
on which strong and satisfactory
law may be built.
81 do not look upon the action of
the state convention as rejection of
+1~, ,,,V,,o Low holt MO
jority of the delegates were in favor
Of an enactment of some sort, but,
rather than pledge the party to a de-
finite law, which could be given no
more than caucus consideration, pre-
ferred that the counties should eth
err instruct their legislative candidates
for or against such a statute or leave
it to their best discretion after a
thorough investigation. The situation
has thus been left open to free and
thorough discussion, which is neces-
sary to wise mature conclusion on
the part of the people. The concensus
of opinion of the delegates was not to
hastily bind the legislators to parti-
cular law and they have left the way
unhampered when the legislature con-
venes, for the passage of a direct pri-
mary law which will be satisfactory
to the voters of the state. Their at
titude was not in opposition to such a
measure but rather that the people
were not at the time sufficiently in
formed as to the merits of any parti-
cular law, and that to pledge their leg
islative candidates would be unfair.
"a discussion Of the question, which
. is already seen to be the result, will
| not only give voters a better under
standing of it but will assist them IL
their selection of choice for the leg
islature and in their decision as tt
what he should do when elected /
will also give both the state and coun
ty candidates an opportunity to sup
port the proposition from their owl
II volition-from their own heart.
| MANY leaders of the party have Of
fered conclusive evidence that this 1
the true state of affairs by declaring
| as strongly for direct primary sine
II the convention as they did before
| met, promising to do everything II
| their power to secure such an enact
| ment.
when the proposal came before tn
convention to pledge the party to
/ specific measure I voted against it, 70
the reasons which I have mentioned
but when the substitute resolution wa
presented which bound the legislator
to a promise that was general in it
nature, l cast my ballot for it. TIL
delegates rejected it on the groun
that it had no teeth and they though
1t better to leave the question entirel
open than to tamper with it, but
personally, regarded it as means {
registering my favor for some sort {
direct primary law.
II am confident that the people {
this state will produce men with SUI
ficient mental attachments to civ
them an altogether satisfactory sts
tute-one which will in no way lesso
party ties, but will preserve party II
tegrity and bring closer to both vote
and candidate the idea OF party re-
possibility.
"The situation has crystallized I'M
more definite demand within the la
few years, and that the people expe
the next legislature to give them sue
law is shown by the platforms
several county conventions which ha'
been held since the state conventio
In many instances, they have declare
in unmistakable terms for direct pr
mary To procrastinate longer in Il
adoption OF such a system by the e.
- tire state would be no less than to X
= the voter of his just right to self go
y eminent
x 1.-THE advantages OF direct prima
- have within the last few years OF
agitation, become generally recognize
1t will free the party, and as natu
al sequence, the state, from the rule
any set Of men who attempt to dicta
destinies and conform them to the
own individual ideas or interests.
| will give men who have proven Their
e selves successful In life's battle, al
who have qualifications necessary
an efficient servant OF the public, 1
opportunity to present themselves
be presented by those who have fai
in them, although under the prese
system they might have been ignore
Moreover, 1t will induce people
j? come out on election day to perfor
t that duty which many Of them ha
neglected-that duty which Is Il