The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1910-05-05
THURSDAY. MAY 5, 1910
MORE ABOUT DIRECT PRIMARY.

MORE ABOUT DIRECT PRIMARY.
The Caldwell News, democratic, has
this to say of the new direct primary
law:
The law placed upon the statute
books of the state of Idaho at the
last legislative session and to be
tried out for the first time in the
coming state elections is in essence
and principle true democratic doc
trine That the law as enacted dis
plays some crudities and imperfec-
tons Is to be expected, but we be-
lieve will be found to be a long step
In the direction of the rule of the
people. II the enactment shall serve
no other purpose than that of the
elimination of party machines it is
worth the money. While this con-
summation most devoutly to be wish
ed will not follow the workings of
the law in day or in a year, that
is exactly the purpose of it and IL the
law is lived up to will follow in time,
Meanwhile the citizen with political
aspirations is beginning to feel his
oats already. No longer has he to
dance attendance in the ante-cham-
bers of the boss or seek Influence"
to get on the ticket for nomination.
With very little trouble he can seek
the suffrages of his. party and if he
receives the endorsement of his fell
lows can go before the people in the
election owing his place on the tic
ket TO no one and no thing except
the one fact that his fellow republic
ans or fellow democrats have made
him their choice in the only Demo
cratic way-by ballot.
The enactment of the direct pri-
mary law marks the insertion of the
thin end of the wedge of the rule of
the people. The principle of the ini-
tiative and referendum and the recall
will be the next steps.
The Law In New York.
The direct primary Is once more in
the open legislative arena in New
York state. The Hinman-Green bill,
which was defeated in the last Legis-
lature, was the subject of a public
hearing in Albany last week. This
bill. it will be remembered, was pre-
pared by group of progressive leg
islators with the counsel and appro-
val of Governor Hughes. 1t was the
result of extended and careful study
of the provisions and working of di-
rect primary acts In other states. The
bill provides that party candidates
shall be nominated directly by the
registered voters of the party at a
primary election managed under con-
ditions exactly similar to those of a
regular election. 1t thus does away
with the convention system of max.
ing nominations. The names of the
proposed candidates are to be put
upon the primary ballot as the result
of petitions signed by certain def
mite number of voters. In these re-
spects the measure Is similar to the
direct primary acts in other states,
but in one important particular it is
radically different from them. The
central party committee (Which is to
be selected at the primary in the
same way as the party candidates.
is to make its suggestions for party
candidates, and these selections are
to have the first place upon the pri
mary ballot. Its selections must b,
made a specified length of time be
fore the date set for the nomination.
by petition, thus giving the voter.
an opportunity to consider the recon
mendations of the party committe,