Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1910-06-17
A FINAL WORD.

Next Wednesday afternoon, the Re
pubIicans of Polk County viii hold
their precinct primaries. These pri-
maries have been called for the pur-
pose Of electing delegates to a county
assembly to be held in Dallas on Sat
urday, June Is.
The county assembly will elect twen-
ty-nine delegates to the state assembly
and will also recommend a ticket for
the consideration of Republican voters
at the regular primary election to be
held in September.
Coming, as they will. direct from the
people of their respective precincts,
and therefore representing the Repub-
lican party in Polk County, these del
egates will in all probability formulate
a platform defining the position Of the
party ON questions of state and local
interest and Importance. Without as
sembly, there can be no platform, and
without a platform there is no need of
party organization.
All assertions to the effect that the
purpose of the proposed assembly is to
destroy the direct primary law are un-
worthy of serious notice. The purpose
of the Republican assembly is to pre-
serve the Republican party. Meetings
such as the Republicans of Oregon are 4
planning to hold cannot act in other /
than an advisory capacity, so far as
the selection of candidates is concern
ed. The final decision as to the fitness
of candidates for the various offices
will rest with the individual voter
when he enters the voting booth at
the primary election in September.
No Republican, no matter how
he may believe in the right
of the Direct Primary, need
fear that he will be taking any step to .
discredit or nullify a single provision ,
of the existing primary law by parti-
cipating in the assembly or the pre-
cinct primaries preceding it. The Di-
rect Primary is not in peril. The DEM
ocratic newspapers that are bowling
so loudly against the Republican as ,
sembly, pretending to believe that the
destruction of the primary law is i'm
minent, know full well that 1t is the
prospect of another Democratic vic
tory in a Republican state that is in
danger Just at this time. One cannot
blame the minority party for resorting
to cunning methods to disrupt and
scatter the forces of the majority, but I
the Republicans of Oregon are less /
sagacious than we think they are If :
they are going to allow the game to be I
continued. .
The Observer does not deem II nec-
essary to say more in favor OF the as
sembly. The position and views of this
are thoroughly understood
by all of its readers. The Observer
believes in party organization. 1t be-
lieves that the rights of the people are c
best protected and the most beneficial
results in government obtained by the
of political parties. 1t be-
lieves that in maintaining a political
the members thereof
have the right to assemble together a
and take such proper steps as are nee b
hHcdf9 ApE It's NHlidIef dH wen as 10 let q
The people know where it stands on 4
questions affecting their interests. II b
the people of free America +,
lave still. as they had in the beginning. e
the right peaceably to assemble" The o
Observers faith in the wisdom OF the
athers who framed the Constitution of n
he United States is greater than its a
aith in the statesmanship of Bill o.
JRen. r,