The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1912-04-12

Whelming majority OF the people whose
demands IL viii he their duty To carry
out There Will be nothing to divert
attention. either of the members or OF
the people who will he intently OBJ
servant. from the one single issue be-
fore the Legislature
I'VE further cite your attention to
the fact that within four Of an actual
majority of both houses OF the legisla-
ture have alrondy signed IN writing Il
pledge To vote for the Identical direct
primary bill drawn by your commits
sion OF the other members. many
times more than enough to make mp
II majority for the Till. have not com
mltted themselves Tor on against.
I'VE insist that il would not be fair
to the people Of Montana to assume in
advance that all Of the members who
| have not given an expression would
oppose the bill IN open session OF the
| legislature. Suctsan assumption would
be without historical precedent in this
state or country. Upon the contrary.
we believe that a very substantial ma
jority of the members hitherto silent
as to this measure, would be irresist
IDLY impeled to respond to the known
"As a further urgency in the matter
Of direct primary, we call your at
tention to the fact that the legislature
to be chosen next November will have
the duty of choosing successor to
the Hon. Joseph NJ. Dixon, senator
now serving this state in the senate OF
the United States. The senator so
chosen in succession will serve for a
! term Of six years. That period will be
epoch making in constructive legisIa :
ton affecting .the welfare OF every
man, woman and child in this state
In a matter of SO vital importance then
the people OF Montana are clearly en-
titled to direct vote. That direc,
vote will not be had unless you cal
the legislature in extra session.
Presidential Preference.
ain support Of our prayer for an
extra session to also consider and pass
a fair and Just presidential preference
primary law, we beg to call your at.
tention to the fact that such laws are
already on the statute books of man,
Of the progressive states Of the Union
In particular, attention is called to tn,
i state Of Illinois, where, within a wecL
after the issuance OF the call for ar
extra session Of the legislature, a pres
identiai preference primary law wa
written into the statute books and hal
already been avaiIed of by the peopi,
Of that state.
THE conventions Of the democratic
and republican parties In the state o
Montana have been called but Their
IL ample time for such an extra ses
sion as we petition for To consider
| pass, and make effective a satisiactor.
presidential preference primary lav
= before such conventions win have met
A Fitting Close.
And, finally. we urge this aetiol
= closing period of your administration
as governor of Montana. In view o
your publicly expressed purpose I
thereafter retire to private life, "
a hope that you viii not take IL amiss
we recite the fact that In electing 70
! to the goyernorship. the people Of thi
! state paid you signal honor, an homo
especially personal in that you wer
chosen by the aid of voters not 9
!, your own party. so that that electio
= was, i'm an especial sense, u gift of III
= people. These same people, as yo
!. have so clearly stated i'm your ChOtea
speech. demand the enactment OF
/. direct primary law by which to elet
3 all their officials. 10 enlarge II