The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1914-09-11
WEEKLY REVIEW STATE
NEWS WITH OUR
COMMENT

alton. An attempt Will De MADE to
amend and perhaps to repeal this law.
A great many people are convinced
that the system is wrong in that it is
expensive, unfmlitful of good results
and invites extravaganza in the use
of money by candidates for Office.
They argue that the people have no
means of ascertainin~ the character
and ability of the candidates for high
office. Their only sources of informa-
tion are distractions in that they are
the abuse of enemies on the one hand
and the praise of friends on the other.
Such information as comes to them
at all comes during the campaign
when neither friend nor foe honestly
attempts to enlighten them. These
people also point out with great force
and truth that the people realizing
their inability to choose the better
men remain away from the polls, or
else are absolutely indifferent of the
results. In Idaho this year we ven
ture the statement that not over Is
per cent of the electorate voted at all.
This is taken as conclusive evidence
that the common people are indiffer-
ent to say the least.
The Tribune receives practically
every daily and weekly newspaper in
Idaho. We have looked to the press
to ascertain in measure the public
sentiment of the state in regard to
the direct primary. If the press in
any wise expresses public sentiment
the direct primary is today in bad
odor. Only one newspaper coming
to our exchange table speaks a good
word for the direct primary. The
Capital News says:
Who complains of the primary
law, is it the people, or is it the poll
ticians? Is the primary law hard
ship upon the people, or is it merely
a hardship upon the candidates who
desire Office?
There is, of course, but one reply
to these inquiries. 1t is not the peo-
pie who are complaining; it is the
politicians and the office-seekers, the
one complaining because it costs
them more to make their influence
felt and because that influence, when
it is felt, is much less than it used to
be under the old convention system;
the other because it has caused him to
expend large sums of money in order
to secure the unfair advantage over
his opposing candidates that he for
merly could secure with the expendi-
ture of much less money
Neither complaint appeals to the
people. In the first place, the people
do not want the influence of the pro-
fessional politician and political boss
felt even so much as it is now felt, in
our nominations, and in the other
place it is clearly the personal fault
of the candidate if he spends large
sums of money. He argues that he
must do SO to be nominated; we re-
ply that nobody but himself cares
much whether he is nominated or not
SO that as far as the public is concern
ed he might keep his money.
There is only one valid objection
to the direct primary law and that is
the expense to the public of conduct
ing the election. The same objection
holds good as to the general election,
the only difference being that no one
suggests a substitute for the general
election expense while the political
bosses are very ready to suggest a
substitute for the direct primary law. u
The above probably states as clear
- PCSSAOAS tAAS ROSAbAOA Ah ANSoAN
to the direct primary of the friends oil
the system.
Those who are Disguised with it are
more numerous. We offer few ex-
tracts from newspapers and individu-
ais which seem to express the more
general opinion of the system. We
take from the news columns of the
Lewiston Tribune the following:
A man who was prominent in Sc.
curing the passage of the Idaho pri
mary law, said yesterday: The opera
ton of the law is a failure. The
people do not recognize the spirit o.
the enactment and its purposes art
ignored Said another man, who
as member of the legislature voted
for the law: 1t affords a greater
avenue for corruption than was evei
possible under the convention plan. /
further means in effect that the PEG
pie shall pay the expense of two cleo
tions. The law has no merit; i
should be abolished And through
out the state expressions along sim
liar lines are being made"
Speaking editorially the same papei
says:
at may all be perfectly true, as con
tended, that the direct primary en-
ables the people to express their owl
opinion instead of having it expressed
by their delegates or bosses" Blu
what sort of opinion is it they express
and how do they arrive at that opin
ion? Therein, we think, is the organic
error of the policy. The people, as ;
rule, have no means whatever of ex
aiming the solid qualities, the re
sponsibility and the intellectual in
tegrity of the men offering themselve
for high and important public trusts
and therefore they must derive thei
opinion by appearances, by preten
sions, by various circumstances of al
accidental or transient nature. In thi
connection it is only necessary to re
fer each one to the sort of GOSSIP
floating around concerning each can
didate who is the subject of any con
sideration at all to the reasons VIII,
he should be supported OF defeated