The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1914-12-10

Captain E. G. Davis, assistant at
torney general, has prepared a draft of
a new primary law which involves a
nunber of changes in the present law.
In order to get the matter before the
nsonle of the state he has had the
nroposed law printed in pamphlet
form. together with comment and eX-
nlanation of the more important
obanges suggested and mailed quite
generally to newspapers and individ-
nails throughout the state in the hope
of drawing out a discussion of the
subject which will reflect the senti-
ment of the people with reference to
the direct primary law, and thus af-
ford a guide to the members of the
legislature in dealing with the sub
iect. Following are the leading
changes proposed by Captain Davis
and his comments on the same, taken
from his pamphlet:
l. 1t changes the definition of "po-
litical party" by providing that "po-
litical parties" within the meaning OF
the act shall include only those or
carnations which cast, at the last
preceding general election, not less
than 20 per cent of the total vote cast
for governor in the state.
This change is desirable for the
reason that small political parties sell
dom, if ever, have more than one can
didate for each office and the holding
of a primary election by such party
is a useless expenditure of time anG
money
2. 1t provides for primary election
to be held on the last Tuesday in Jul!
for the nomination of candidates foI
the legislature and for elective count!
Offices only, and for the election o
delegates to state platform and nom
mating conventions which shall NEE
at the state capital on the third Tues
day Of August, make party PLATFORM
and nominate all candidates for con
gressional and all elective state anC
district offices.
This change is made for the reason
that the average voter can, if h
chooses, so inform himself as to b.
able to pass intelligently upon tn
qualifications of county candidates
whereas it is a we'll known fact, dem
onstrated by experience in three cam
paigns, that the vast majority of vot
ers can not hope to prepare themselVe
to make a wise selection of candidate
for state offices. In most cases tn
voting here is for names only, and
can not we'll be otherwise.
3. 1t provides an effective plan 10
the selection of capable precinct com
mitteemen in each party and furthe
provides that these precinct commit
teemen shall serve as judges of cleo
ton without pay. 1t dispense5 wit
clerks of election. 1t provides for tn
counting of all votes in each count
by three expert clerks employed by tn
county auditor 1t eliminates all use
less advertising and many other item
of expense
Under this plan the cost Of holdn
n urinary election in any county nee
not exceed $500 and in the smalle
counties 1t need not exceed $500. In
cost of primary election throughou
the state need not exceed $4,000. Thl
one item alone represents a saving
the taxpayers of approximately $9o
900, to say nothing of the saving
money to the candidates themselVe
enormous in amount, and which man
of them can not afford to spend.
A. 1t provides for basing the cor
vention representation to which eao
political party shall be entitled upo
the normal vote of such party in II
several counties of the state, this no.
NAL vote to be determined by Gddif
the vote received within a county
all party candidates for COMPRESSION
and state offices and dividing this su
by the number Of such candloale
One convention representative is to
allowed for each 400 of the vote
determined
This method of determining u
party representation at conventions
believed to be perfectly fair, since
eliminates the possibility of haVl
such representation based upon l.
vote cast for a particular candiua
who for personal or special ana u
usual reasons may receive more
less than his party vote.
S. 1t provides for the payment
the state to convention represent
tives of their actual railroad transpo
tation from their homes to the sta
capital and return, together win
per diem allowance of $25O Ior VI
actually and necessarily spent IN {
TILE Ill ARITY,