The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1914-12-10
CHANGING THE PRIMARY ELEc-
TloN LAW.

The Miner this week gives consider
able space to the proposed new direct
primary law which has been formu-
lated by Captain e. G. Davis, If Boise,
not because II approves 1t, bu> rather
because Il affords a basis for discus
sion and is a subject that should re-
eeiye much attention from the people
between this time and the meeting OF
the legislature
Captain Davis proposes to return to
tie convention method OF nominating
state and district candidates, but with
safe guards designed to prevent tn
aauses which formerly characterized
that system. His plan is a good one,
particularly that feature which pro-
vides for having the state pay tie &C
tual travelling expenses OF delegates
and a per diem of $3.50 The time
fer which per diem is paid, however,
should be six days at least, for 1t
takes practically two days to reach
Boise from the northern part of the
state and two days to return, and
there should be an allowance of two
days to attend the convention. An
other feature of the proposed law
which Is not good Is that which pro-
vides for nominating the candidates
for county offices at the same pri-
mary election which elects delegates
TO the state convention. Candidates
for county offices, and particularly
candidates for the Legislature, should
not be nominated until after the
adoption of the state platform and
the nomination of state candidates,
Before accepting nomination fol-
the legislature a man would natur
ally desire to know to what legisla
tive program ne Is committed by the
platform, In fact, a candidate for
the legislature could not be bound by
a platform which had not been adopt
ed when he was nominated,
But why not return to the conven-
ton system in the county as well as
In the state? If It Is possible to throw
around the state convention safe
guards that will insure its action to
reflect the sentiment of the party, 1t
should not be more difficult to ac-
compllsh the same result in the coun
ty. The expense OF making cam
palgn for the nomination and then
again for election, which is one of the
main arguments against the state prl
mary, for it frequently bars a man of
moderate means from aspiring to state
Office, applies with quite as much
force to candidates for county office,
The expense of making two campaigns
in the county, compared to the emol-
uments of office, are quite as heavy as
those incurred In making two state
campaigns and exerts as potent an in
fluence in preventing poor men from
seeking county offices.
Experience has proven that the pri-
mary has failed to accomplish the re-
suits that its advocates claimed for II,
and that II Is just as easy for those
who have selfish purpose to serve to
control the direct primary rs 1t was
for them to handle a convention. The
direct primary has given us nothing
Of advantage. on the contrary, 1t
has by requiring two campaigns made
the expense so heavy that poor men
are frequently barred from office,
doubled the expense to the taxpayers.
and at the same time has given no
protection from machine methods. |
which was held up as the chief COM
plant against the convention system.
Political campaigns always have a
disturbing effect upon business, and
the tendency should be to make them
as short as practicable. The direct
primary doubles the length Of cam
pagns, and in this respect Captain
Davis plan affords no relief Our