The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-03-21
A Primary Election System.

joys, bestowed upon itself, four years ago, a pr-
mary election law. 1t is so good law that the
machine element within the parties of the State are
still endeavorng to nullify some of its requirements
for in Oregon the machine is tightly bottled up and
the cork thrown away.
The basic argument of the Oregon law is that
political parties and voluntary political organiza-
tons are necessary under the American form Of
government and are entitled to all the encourage
lnent and protection that legislation and common
usage can bestow That the majority represented by
party voluntary organization should prevail
through the open exercise of its inherent rights
1t is therefore declared to be the purpose of the
Oregon primary election law to better secure and
preserve the rights of political parties and organ-
cations. All persons not otherwise and selhshy in
terested will agree that the Oregon plan IS vast
Improvement the plan that places the control
and direction of political parties in the hands of
few busy men,
The bill for the law of Oregon was SO satisfactory
TO the people that they enacted it by of $685.
for to 1884 against 1t provides for the nomna-
ton by election of all candidates for official posi-
tons except presidential municipal Gin cities of less
than 1000 inhabtants) and school, 1t substitutes
Tor the and the convention an election fully
as carefully guarded election at which cand-
dates previously nominated voted into office.
The stock objections to the system in Oregon, as
well in other primary law Statec are that it is
cumbersome and expensive. But long experience
has fully demonstrated that in no other way can
real self government be maintained and real self
government is worth the price Under the primary
system, the will of the majority, represented by
party other organization, is carried out
Under the and convention system, the will
OF only small fraction of the majority is carried
out, for the people do not habitua1ly rise against
party election days. Therefore, under the eau
Gus and convention system, the Of the succeed
ing election represents money thrown away The
election could as well be omitted, for it only con
firms conspiracy concocted by d few politicians
who have learned that party loyalty will endorse
any scheme that bears the party label
So the first primary, election has become neces-
sary that the election that elects may not continue
to be undemocratic farce-a travesty on the maine
of free government obedience to the monarchy that
bears the unwholesome name of 'the machine"
The primary election law of Oregon contains two
provisions that original and unique but they
become very satisfactory everywhere outside of ma
chine circles, after being subjected to the cons1-
Grafton their Importance warrants. They are desg
mated III the law Statement No 1" and State
ment No. 2" Every candidate of any party for a
scat in the State Legislature may subscribe to one
statement the other, making his own choice
Statement No 1 reads as follows:
further state to the people of Oregon as we'll is
o the people of my legislative district that during
nv term of office | will always vote for that car
lidate for United States Senator in Congress who
las received the highest number of the peoples
or that position at the general election next pre-
eding the election of Senator in Congress- without
egard to my individual preference.
Statement No. reads as follows
During my term of Office | shall consider the
ote of the people for United States Senator in
congress nothing than recommendation,
hich | shall be at liberty to wholly disregard if Z
e reason for doing so seems to me TO be sufficient