The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1910-09-16

man is disbarred from Office for
ever more; that the administration
of public affairs henceforth is the
sole perogative of the wealthy. The
candidates in all instances have kept
within the limits established by
law. We will admit that. What
poor man can afford to spend $3.50.
Tor an opportunity to become his
party's nominee for governor? If
nominated it will cost him twice as
much again to be elected. He will
spend half to two-thirds of his first
years salary before he ever sees the
state house. Idaho is no place for
the poverty stricken patriot. AS
most of her people are poor we can
not see wherein the direct primary
is the poor mans chance. We doubt
IL any one else can. II substantial
benefits do not accrue to the people
the law is a failure. If the poor
man is handicapped by the law 1t Is
failure. II no better men are nom-
mated than formerly the law ID a
failure. Judging by any or all OF
these measures the Idaho direct pri-
mary law is a farce and failure.
However we have the law on our
statute books. 1t will not Oe re-
pealed for a little while Mt least. In
the mean time this crude legislation
may be amended in order to at least
register the will of the people after
they have expressed it. The Law
should be amended In ct least three
particulars. In the Asst place the
second choice provision should he
eliminated or at least left optional
with the elector. The people are dis
gusted with the second choice pro-
vision. They usually have no second
choice and they do not want tC
annul their first choice vote by cast
ing a second choice vote. In the
second place the law should provide
for advisory conventions or assem-.
blies. If the assembly does not rec
ommend the candidates the people
want the commission will be attended
to by the people themselves. Al
present the voter cannot k onehwt
present the voter cannot know the
qualifications OF the different candi.
dates. He must judge by what thS
newspapers or the candidate himself
tells him. InfreQuently are either
of these two sources OF information
entirely free from faint of prejudice
The convention or assembly will sim
ply recommend for nomination. ~ hG
people will actually do the nomina
ting as at present. In the thirC
place the law should provide that
the people register as members o.
the party to which they belong, and
be permitted to vote only as the!
register. A Republican has no bust
ness voting at a Democratic primar!
and a non-partisan should not b,
permitted to vote at any primary un
less the non-partisans have a tickle
of their own. The idea of Demo
Gratis trying to name the Republican
ticket or wise versa is absolutel
wrong, so long as this is govern
ment by political parties. Thes
nondescripts who delight in the nam
Independent can flock by themselves
They have no rights at party pr
maries. The primary law shout
protect the parties against them.
These changes and amendments t
the primary law would help a grea
deal. They would make 1t possibI
! for tho Republicans to name theI
: ticket; for the Democrats to nam
theirs. The elimination of the SCI
end choice provision would simplif
/ matters and give an intelligent vote
an opportunity to cast an intelligeI
4 vote without annulling his ballot. I'll
r assembly or convention would say
t candidates the great expense the
S are now put to and still leave al
e solute control in the hands of II
I people. The Tribune comment
: these ideas to the careful consider
I? ton of voters irrespective of polite
e affiliations.