Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1910-09-08
ORGANIZATION ESSENTIAL

There can be no popular govern
ment without political parties ami
no political parties without organi-
cation. The fundamental scheme Of
popular government rests upon del
egated power. The wisdom and fore
sight of those who framed the con-
stitution along these lines remain un-
questioned to this day Naturally the
people must decide to whom this pow
er should be delegated and upon their
decision rests their veal or woe. Any
attempt. however, to depart from this
time-honored principle will involve
the country seriously. It will replace
sanity with hysteria; well-ordered
debate and logical discussion with
hairbrained oratory and infiammatory
appeals to popular prejudice.
The nomination of candidates by
a direct vote of the people is, in real
ity. a departure from the early prin-
ciples of government, but the direct
primary is an outgrowth of conditions
brought about by the people them
selves. The privilege and duty have
always been theirs of delegating pow
or to select their candidates; and
their indifference in this respect
their playing into the hands of po-
Iitical tricksters and bosses-their
apathy towards the selection of del
egates to party conventions, consti-
tuted an evasion of that privilege and
duty So, the people themselves have
been to blame, and the direct primary
with its added tax upon the time and
money of the people. is the natural
outcome. No one will question the
permanency of the law or its salutary
effect. II was the tonic which was
needed for the body polite, but Il
will be efficacious only so long as
the people take interest enough 20
vote at the primary elections If they
lose that interest. it viii fall into thu
same disrepute as the old law which
provided for the selection Of delegat
ca to party conventions by primary
election.
Assuming that an aroused public
conscience viii prevent deterioration
of the primary law and its princi
pies, the thing to avoid is party dis
indignation on account of the law
The Maverick urged during the pri
mary campaign that personal differ
ences of the various candidates OF
the republican ticket should not b.
made paramount to the safety of thu
party in the general election. TIL
nation and the state needs the re
publican party. but can get alon,
without those individuals who sub
ordinate the party's good to thei
greed or ambition for office II is re
gretable. therefore. TO see influence
at work since the primary election
which will have a sinister effect upo
the republican party in the Noyem
Der election unless a halt is called @
once. In marked contrast to the sore
ness in the republican ranks. enger
dered by the primary election. is tn
united front presented by the demo
Gratis who are already hungerly fore
tasting victory not upon the merit
Of the issues between the two par
les. but the apparent internal di
ferences i'm the republican party Th
same spirit which seems likely to TAX
hold Of the republican party in Ida
no is the one which has given Oh
best offices i'm the state of Oregon
the democrats. and which has fina
ly resulted in that state in a ne.
evasion of the primary law throue
assembly selection of the republics
candidates this year.