Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1910-09-27
THE PRIMARY ELECTION.

The will of the people has been eX-
pressed in Oregon. While the regis
tration was fully 33 Ia per cent short
of the total voting strength of the
state, and the primary vote was less
than so per cent of the registration,
and while few successful candidates
received much more than half of the
registered vote, the fact remains that
under Oregons direct nominating sys-
tenn the verdict of approximately one
sixth Of the voters of the state must
stand as the expression of the whole
peoples will and the successful candi-
dates must be accepted as the peoples
candidates.
While the surprisingly light vote
proceeding seem farcical in the ex-
treme, there is no real ground for
complaint In any quarter. Every voter
i'm oregon. save the few who were in
capacitated by sickness or other ex-
cusable disability, had an opportunity
to express his wishes and desires at
the polls, and If he failed to exercise
this privilege, it may reasonably be
assumed that he had no particular
choice of candidates Consequently.
the viii of the voters who did express
their preference must be accepted as
the peoples will.
1t is hardly necessary to say that
the Observer hopes for the election OF
every Republican nominated by the
people Saturday afternoon and that Il
will do an that 1t can to help bring
about their election. In urging the
election of the Republican ticket, lit
tie space win be devoted to eulogy of
any candidate. 1t is to be taken for
granted that the voters thoroughly
satisfied themselves as TO these mems
fitness and ability 20 hll the respective
offices before supporting them in the
primary. Therefore, representing as
they do the peoples will, we shall only
urge that these candidates be given
the loyal support OF every Republican
the Sth day OF November
This newspaper believed In and ad-
vocated the assembly plan Of select
ing men for public office. IL believes
in that plan yet We cannot have
strong and effective parties without
organization. II Is true that many
men profess 20 believe that political
parties are not necessary In securing
the best government. but with all
such this paper most emphatically dis
agrees In the government Of a coun-
try, as In an lines Of business and
commercial endeavor. the best results
are secured through organized effort
and deliberation. The Observer hopes
the day will never come when the I'm
tied States will be controlled by a hap
hazard conglomeration Of individuals.
for such n day would mark the be
ginning Of our end as a Nation.
We believe that the principles and
policies OF the Republican party. while
they are by no means perfect are
after an the best that have yet been
devised for a successful administration
Of public affairs. Time and experience /
have proved that our country has en-
joyed It's greatest prosperity under
Republican rule. That Is why the
writer Is a Republican and his news ]
paper Republican newspaper.
We favored the assembly because q
afforded the Republican party In Ore I
gon a means q expressing SIS views I
and opinions on important issues af- T
fecting the welfare of the people and /
of piedging its candidates 20 carry 4
these views and policies into eject /
when elected 70 oiiice. What man hav- +
ing the Interest of his country truly /
az heart VII say that such a method
of procedure ls not better than one
which contempiates that every oandi-
dafe shall make hts oen platform. or
lhat he SHAH be permitted 20 run for