The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1914-12-25
PROMINENT NORTH IDAHO
CITIZEN VISITS CALDWELL
M. Z. Lewis of Moscow in City Last
Week on business

Week on business
Hon. M. L. Lewis of Moscow was
in Caldwell Friday OF last week at
tending to business. Mr. Lewis IS
one OF the most prominent and in
huentlal men OF north Idaho. During
the last primary campaign he was a
candidate tor the Republican nomin-
alton tor governor and made a most
remarkable race in view OF the tact
that he was not well known in south
ern Idaho PRIOR to entering the cam
paign.
Mr.. Lewis takes deep interest in
public affairs. lie discusses all SUB
Jects fairly and tearlessly and D1lngs
to the discussion breadth OF mind,
depth OF study and quick and ready
mind. AT the present time, like all
other good citizens, Mr.. Lewis is
deeply interested in the direct primary
law-its theory and its practice. It
IS with great pleasure that The Tri-
Dune is able to present to its readers
the following article on the subject
by Mr. Lewis. We are confident that
our readers will find the article in
teresting and instructive. 1t presents
some new thought on the subject and
in clear and torceful manner.
The Case Against the Primary Law.
The primary election law had its
conception in the idea of Let the
People Rule" Let them nominate
their own officers. Let them run the
public business direct. 1t was framed
so as to accomplish this object, as
nearly as the law makers could, using
their own ideas and the experience in
other states as a guide. 1t has been
amended at two sessions of the legis-
lature. AT the last primary election,
after the experience of two previous
elections under its provisions, it dew
eloped such inherent weaknesses,
showed that it did not come anywhere
near accomplishing the object for
which 1t was framed, and proved that
the provisions of the law lent them
selves to political manipulation to such
an extent, that the law is being al
most universally condemned by the
press OF the state, and by the public.
Changes are sure to be made in this
law at the coming session of the legis-
lature, and it would seem that wise
preliminary to such changes would be
a consideration of the faults of the
present law. If we know the faults
we can change the law to fix them.
Primary Theory.
The theory of the law is right. In
practice in Idaho it is all wrong. The
theory presumes that the average
voter knows what offices are to be
filled by persons of his selection, what
particular qualifications person
needs to fill this office best, what par
ticular man in the county, or the
state, is best qualified for the place,
and goes to this man, selects him and
induces him i'll to office, and so, with
each office to be filled from top to bot
tom, getting the best man in the
county and state with particular quail
hcations to fill each particular office,
from United States Senator to Con-
stable. 1t presumes that the average
voter takes an active interest in the
running OF each office in the state,
and in all the preliminary political
work necessary to getting the right
man to fill each office The theory
is right 1t presumes too much how
ever. 1t presumeS that the average
voter is interested in each office in
the county and state, is active, patri-
otto, non-mercenary, public spirited
way, and is not only willing, but eager
to show this interest by taking time
to canvass the county and state, seek
ing the proper men to fill them, and
going to the primary polls and NOM
mating these men when found. This
is not true. 1t preSumcs that the
average voter knows what qualihca-
tions are needed to properly conduct
each office in the county and state.
This is not true. 1t presumes that the
average voter knows the best men in
the county and state to fill each office.