The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1909-02-13
THE DIRECT PRIMARY.

THE DIRECT PRIMARY.
Before another issue of The Tribune
reaches it's readers, the legislature
will have reached a decision as to a
direct primary law. The law making
body will have passed or rejected such
a measure 1t may not be out of place
at this time, to again consider the
merits of the direct primary; and
it's history and operation in other
states; with a view of arriving at an
honest conclusion. The Tribune has
held from the inception of the move
ment in Idaho, that the results in other
states did not justify faith in the idea,
nor encourage the people of Idaho to
try the experiment. At the present
time there are four states from which
lessons may be drawn which will sub
stantiate the arguments The Tribune
has advanced from time to time
against the direct priamry. Those
states are Oregon, Washington, Illi-
nois, and Wisconsin. 1t cannot be ar
gued that results will be more salts
factory in Idaho than in those states.
While we may in measure profit by
the mistakes of others, yet their ex-
perience teaches them many things
that Idaho must also learn by exper-
fence.
The direct primary's fundamental
idea is to take the power out of the
hands of the politicians and political
rings; and to place it where it be-
longs, in the hands of the people. By
doing this incompetence and corrup-
ton are hoped to be removed from
politics. The ends desired certainly
justify almost any means. Any law
which would accomplish these two
things should receive the sanction of
all fair-minded people The only ques-
ton, then, is, does the direct primary
law in Oregon, Washington, Illinois,
or Wisconsin accomplish those ends :?
We must lay aside the plausible argu-
ments of politicians, and look the
matter squarely in the face. The as
surance and assumption of no man
counts, when the fact proves the err
ror of his judgment. If in states where
the direct primary law is in operation,
the mandates of the people are dis
obeyed, or corruption exists, or politi-
cal rings control, then it must be ac-
cepted as fact that the direct pri-
mary law is a failure. If it fails to
accomplish its design, it's cost alone
would make it an undesirable law.
Idaho is particularly fortunate that
other states are now having exper-
fences with the direct primary. Wis
consin has dead lock in the legis-
lature owing to the law of that state.
Senator, then governor, La Toilette,
became enraptured with the idea
some years since, and secured a di-
rect primary law in his state, By that
law he was elected to the United
States senate, which of course made
him more convinced than ever of the
beneficent effectiveness of the law.
But this year Senator Stephenson is
a candidate for the senate, and at the
primary election secured the en-
dorsement of the people. The Wis
eonsin legislature is holding back his
election, owing to the charge that he
secured L g nomination by the corrupt
use of money. 1t is charged that he
spent upwards of one hundred thous-
and dollars in carrying the primary
election. The charges are so well
substantiated that even La Toilette
himself opposes the carrying out the
clear and direct mandate of the peo-
pie, and the result of his own law. In
Wisconsin the direct primary fosters
corruption. If the legislature fails to
elect Mr.. Stephenson the will of the
people as expressed has been thwart-
ed. If the legislature does, it has en-
dorsed the corrupt use of money In
politics. Wherein is the Wi -onlsln
method any better THAI -,Ie- old? We
cannot see it. We think that the
friends of thy direct primary law will
have a lard time explaining it.
Away back in 1878, as a member of
the Republican State Central commit
tee of Illinois, Albert ]. Hopkins
started to organize a political ma
chine. The success that attended his
efforts may be understood from the
fact that he was a presidential elector