The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1911-08-16
THE DIRECT PRIMARY BILL.

Among the replies which have been
sent to Secretary Law of the primary
law commission by the members OF
the legislature, there are some which
are more than q mere Endorsement
of the proposition. Some OF the
analyses are interesting: there are q
few which are evidently written for
political effect, but most OF them are
frank and straightforward. To our
notion, there is none which is more
to the point than the letter written by
Representative Story of Gallatin
county. In his letter, MIR. Story
says:
The copy of the proposed primary
law, drafted by your honorable com.
mittee, has been duly received, and,
after q careful consider alton OF the
same, l can End no possible chance
for an unfavorahle criticism, either by
the people or the so.called politicians.
l do not care to state that I believe
q direct primary law is q panacea for
all the ills of the body polite, for
until the individual takes enough In
terest 10 our civic institutions to study
their problems with 9 view of solving
their different questions for himself,
legislation will be shaped largely by
those few, whatever their motive, who
do AXE q study of these things. do
believe, however that q direct primary
law will stimulate the voter to this
study; to Investigate carefully the re.
suit Of his vote. and l am fully conf.
dent Of an intelligent people exhibiting
unfailing judgement 10 the selection of
its representatives.
A direct primary law would at least
spare US the humiliating specacle that
was witnessed during the last hours of
the Twelfth legislative assembly when
man after man, ruled entirely by the
wild endeavor of q political majority
to keep its head above the waters of
oblivion by e!ecting a United States
sen a.or, arose in the hail ct the capt.
toll at Helena and announced that, al.
though the gentleman was q perfect
stranger and that, personally, he was
entirely unacquainted with the candi.
dates qualifications, the party seemed
unable'to unite upon any other man
and rather than let the Office 60 by
default, any man who couly get the
desired number OF votes would be per-
fectly satisfactory.
Here was en acted the scene Of a de
liber ate body of men, men who wer
elected to their high Office because
majority OF their people considere
than com petent and we'll enough In
formed to exercise due care ia the sc
lection OF a man to represent Montan'
in the higher halls of congress, allow
ing themselves to be controlled entire
ly by a blind superstition which pre-
vented ever those who we're sufficient
acquainted with the candid ate fror
enlightening their more ignorant a.
sociates a to the name Of a ma
the designing leaders of their part
foisted upon the people OF Montan'
And this, too, In the face of the ia
that in q previous breath some OF til
candidates. most ardent supports
had been declaring their allegiance
the common people of Our %sovereiI
state.
Now, as l previously stated, I
primary law will not absolve the vo'
from all personal responsibilities, t
it will enable him to use a calm iud
ment that is often lacking under o
present system, and whether it be
special session or in regular sessic
If I am again called upon to represe
the people of Gallatin county in Q
state legislature, I shall give this
rect primary law my undivided su