The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-04-01
DIRECT PRIMARY PROBLEMS

American Fails Press
The direct primary law, under
which the nomination of candidates
for the general election will be made,
presents many problems which must
be solved before the primaries are
held. The law is somewhat complex,
and the success of it's operation will
depend upon the familiarity of the
public with it's provisions. There are
some sections of the law which re-
quire careful consideration, and a
way should be provided by which this
may be done, and the vote cast at
the election made to express the
wishes of the individual members of
the different parties in the fullest pos
sible way.
Another matter that requires con-
sideration is that of deciding what
principles the members of the differ
ent parties desire to be included in
the platforms upon which the nomi-
'nees will appeal for..votes. Electors
as well as candidates desire to have
voice in this matter. Under the
primary law it is possible for each
candidate for office to make his own
platform and have it different from
that of any other candidate, and none
of these individual platforms have
anything in common, nor anything in
keeping with the sentiment of the
general public. 1t will also be posi-
BILE for the county nominees to make
their campaign on platforms not in
harmony with those of candidates for
state offices, and condition of chaos
created out of which it will be impOs-
sible to secure harmonious action
from the coming legislature. While
these matters may and probably will
adjust themselves when the law has
been in operation for one or more
campaigns, the Press does not believe
it lessons the necessity for an under
standing and harmonious action of
the members of all the parties at the
present time.
The Press believes that the Repub-
licans of Oneida county desire not on
ly to have voice in the making of
platform upon which the county
candidates will run, but to have a
voice in the making of the state plat
form as we'll, or at least to have an
opportunity to express their wishes
upon these matters. The same is
probably true of the members of all
parties. The only way this can be
done is by holding conferences to
which the humblest member as well
as the most influential of each party
shall be invited, where a free ex-
change of views upon all matters of
interest may be had. To simplify such
meetings as much as possible it might
be best to call meetings at some CEN
trail point in each of the three COM
missioners' districts, gather the con-
census of opinion, give general ex-
preston to the combined wishes Of
the people of such districts, and select
delegates to county gathering which
would thus be able to formulate prin-
ciples representing the wishes of the
party within the county as whole.
Otherwise the campaign must be con-
Quoted along lines and upon the ideas
of the candidates, which may be far
from a true representation of senti-
ment.
The Press is making these sugges-
tions from no desire to retard or him
der the primary law, nor to advance
or oppose the interests of any candi-
date, but to make the pathway of
the law more smooth, and its effects
more truly representative than will
otherwise be possible. The personnel
of the ticket has no place in the dis
cussion at such meeting, and should
not be brought up. Party principles,
however, have a right to a hearing,
and any prospective candidate who
finds himself out of harmony with
sentiment which such meetings would
crytalize would have no chance of
success, and would know whether or
not 1t was worth while for him to
seek nomination. The sentiments
of the party rather than those of in
dividuals would thus find expression,
and this is as 1t should be.
The Press trusts the matter will be
freely discussed in all parts of the
county, and if it meets with general
approval, would suggest that the
county chairman of the Republican
party, at least, call meeting in each
of the commissioners districts at a
time sufficiently in advance of the pri-
maries to permit the people to be