The Daily Missoulian., 1912-04-26
WHY NOT IN MISSOULA?.

Why not have preferential primary vote in Mssoula
county, 1t could be easily arranged by the central
mees--ust as easily as the oldme routine primaries
were called And it would afford correct index Of the
sentiment of the voters here.
Other Montana counties have tried the preferential pr-
mary with There have been some serious mis-
takes corrected by the primary which have been
taken already II there were counties which
adopted this system there would be other rghed
no doubt
Take the of Blaine county for instance Here was
county which denied proper representation The
state machine literally over the people of the new
county and denied them the right Of representation
man was placed upon the committee as the nominal rep
resentave of Blaine counys people, but really another
cog in the state machine. The whom the people had
chosen turned down.
Mark the result OF the primary The people OF Blaine
county voted They sent Ben Phillips machine man and
party wrecker TO the shelf They elected again the man
whom the committee had rejected elected him positively
that there can be no doubt now of his credentials
Yellowstone county had preference primary Its vot-
es thus enabled to place themselves correctly upon
record They had been to extent misrepresented
though not so agranty as in the case of Blaine. Now
however, the knows just how Yellowstone county
stands Dawson county is TO have primary So are
some OF the other Montana counties
There is no doubt to where Missoula county stands
upon the question OF presidential preference. The sen-
ment here-as is admitted even by the machine men
is overwhelmingly for Roosevelt It is natural that it
should be This being the case any more than fair
that the people should have the chance to say how they
ee especially as their representative has grossly mis-
represented them?
The central committees should consider this matter II
would not be difficult task arrange the primaries and
there would be much good in the results
1t is only question of few months at most when
there will be state primaries The governor has proclaimed
the state initiative election which has for its purpose the
enactment Of primary law.
There indications that the
tolledhave become alarmed the threatened loss of
prestige which will them in the event they let this
matter to the people for action They may see that they
have chance to little from the wreck and they NAV
cut loose from the combination which was SO adroitly or
ganized to defeat statewide primary
Even Governor Norris has publicly admitted that there
is an overwhelming public sentiment in favor of the pr
mary law In this admission he Joined by everv one of
the sandpat senator's who preventing the calling OF the
legislature to pass primary law. The difference is that
they will not openly admit it,
Some OF them, however, feel that they are getting the
worst of the DEAL by having the shift all the re-
sponsbiy to their shoulders and they resent the course
which has placed them in this embarrassing position 1t
may be that today tomorrow will see some of them
Jared loose from the gang
Inevitable is the primary in Montana Not all the power
OF the machine can stave off much longer WHY does
not Mssoua county get into line right away and make it
known to the state that her sentiment progressive?
The opportunity here. The problem not difficult
just order the primary and the people will do the rest
1t due to the people of Missoua county that they be
gwen an opportunity to express for themselves their
opinion