The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1909-11-25

pede because of a clever speech. a g~randstay play, a welLoiled
machine. 1t isn't Spectacular, to settle the whole matter IN the
quiet polls instead Of the feverish convention, just as it isn't
spectacular to hoe corn in a july sun when you'd rather be
pirouetting in a big red touring car and a fat lunch box headed
for the shady grove. But it's mighty effective, ard good fot
The corn. The still small voice of the ballot becomes a mighty
shout, calling for the men whom the people believe to be hon
est, and capable, and clean. The new law requires the publica-
ton for from 30 TO 60 days, Of any prospective candidates in
tention to ask the people fora nomination; and then he has to
run the gauntlet OF public opinion. But It's going to be easy for
the people TO PICK out a good man; 1t always IS The TACT that
10 tins case any candidate is practically forced to serve an APP
premiership before the public, to be able to have any acquain-
lance and standing with them, isn't d bad thing for the state
there VIII be fewer 1nistakes-as longer courtships lead to
fewer unhappy marriages; acquaintance is one Of the very
llnest cures Tor foolish nfatuahons. II a man isn't right, the
majority OF the people are pretty sure to spot him by instinct,
once they have the chance to vote for or against him at the pi-
mares. IL wall discourage the uneiean or undeslrabie man TO
have to run two gauntlets, the primaries and the election. There
are men who might make quite excellent candidates for the
ordinary convention ticket, VINO cQIIdht pc dragged INTO the
primaries for a 6O-day inspection. The state IS no loser to have
these men elect to stay out OF plltics. Il may be easy to take
whatever comes after the regular convention nomination, when
partisan feeling is high enough to gloss over faults, to excuse
defects. It isn't easy to explain away these last flying stories OF
wrong, IN the colo cam OF the primary election, when there is
wrong, in the cold salm of the primary election, when there is
no partisan backing to appeal to, no grand old party''-either
republican or delnocraIcZt0 carry part oil the burden. 1t
means a higher class Of candidates, as a rule; men who fight
in the open-they can't fight any other way, under the pri-
Dlarles; men who can't buy their way into the peoples affec-
tons-for the law limits their expenditures-and the candi-
date who violates the spirit of this law limiting expenditures
is a sneak, a perJuler, a man devoid Of honor; men who are
unable to meet the peoples criticism and prove their worth.
Idaho hasn't been badly governed. Probably no other state
Of the Northwest has been so uniformly well governed or re-
spected. But this doesn't mean that we shall shut up like CLANS,
like Chinese ancestor-worshipper and refuse to progress. The
average citizenship Of Idaho is perhaps higher than that of
almost any other state; the people are capable OF governing
themselves by the most advanced primary law that has ever
been dreamed. The state has passed out Of the reach of dicta-
tors, OF a necessary delegation Of power to govern because we
can govern ourselves. The sun will shine just as bright, the
ram and snow and the fertile soil will be just as bounteous, the
crops and herds and trees and fruits and fields will grow Just
as far under a primary law with the people on top, as they ever
did under a convention system with several wel-trained, high
priced engineers bosslng the job and showing the people where
to head IN on their own place-and the majority of the people
Will be stronger, freer, happier, running their own affairs than
IN giving the control to others and paying them for il.
The convention system has not ruined Idaho. Neither has
the dread Of the shadow Of a telegraph pole falling on the grave
a thousand year-dead Chink injured China-they could start
today, forget all the past, and make even the Yankees hard
70 catch in the race Of progress.
But just because our ancestors crossed the plains with OK
teams, or lighted their houses with tallow dips, or burned the {
witches or believed in the evil eye, Idaho ISM bound to the t
convention system. The people can make Of the direct primary {
law, an instrument to govern public service as perfectly as a /
nome is governed, which means better government than we now
nave. The law may need some amendments, after giving it a :
trial. 1t so, it can be amended. But the idea is right.
Between now and the primaries, which are to be held next :
August, the Recorder hopes to present the matter from SO
many sides that the law, it's intent, its operation, its effect, will +
BE thoroughly understood. It's a fine study; it's a nice guess
Us to how t IS going to work. Because it is the law Of the
state, and we shall have to live under it, it should be given a fair I
rial. ii we don't like it, it can be repealed. H
But the Recorder predicts that it will never be renealed- II
strengthened and made more effective. HI