American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1914-12-24
The Case Against Idaho's
Direct Primary Law
BY M. E. LEWIS.

for each party at the primary polls.
Having done this Its duty seems end
ed. apparently, for In providing for
the greatest kind of strife within the
parties before the people OF the county
and state, which strife often becomes
so bitter that candidates and their
partisans often become bitter enemies.
II thus provides the greatest engine
for party disintegration aud d~estruc-
ton that this country has ever known.
IL logically follows that this strife
within the parties is strongest within
the ranks OF the dominant party I'm the
county OF state, as this party naturally
controls the offices.
In Idaho this party is the Republi-
can party. This party passed the pri-
mary law. and in doing 30 provided
the engine Of dis%integration which, IL
the law is allowed to stand, Will even
tually divide the party into factions
and retire II from power. Under the
primary law party names are gradu-
ally becoming meaningless and plat
forms are made to fool the people and
Justly merit their gIbes and scorn.
Candidates. being self-nominated, can
not claim party endorsement and with
out this party responsibility ceases.
ManIpulations.
The average voter goes to the priA
mary polls to vote, and calls for the
ballot of his party, or of some other
party II he chooses, for under this law
the right OF any party to control It's
own nominations is denied. II this
voter is of a minority party and
the placing Of names on his party
ballot has been controlled by a sort
of star chamber proceedings control
led by his party leoders with a view
to preventing contests within the party
then he is at liberty to call for the
ballot OF the opposition party and by
his vote In this opposition party he
may help to nominate the weakest can
didate on Its ticket. with "A view to de-
feating them at the general election.
The primary law permits this. This
star chamber proceedings of n minor
ity party, II II IL held, is a wise pro-
ceeding. II generally results In good
candidates being nominated; IL avoids
contests within the party for any Of
fee; II avoids all tendency within the
party for disintegration because of
contests; and II leaves the voters at
herty TO join in the making OF nomi-
nations Of the candidates of the other
party. getting the weakest men, and
defeating them later.
Voters Qualifications.
The average voter takes his ballot
into the booth to mark up. lie looks
over the names .on the ticket. II for
tunate he may have n speaking ac-
qualntance with 20 per cent OF the
candidates and know something of
the qualifications for office of half of
these. For the balance of the persons
the ticket he has no qualifications
us an elector fitting him to act intel
in his choice between the per-
sons named. There IL no party en-
dorsement behind any name on the ,
ticket to guide him, 1t is n scramble
OF individuals. Fol- those named on
the ticket whom he does not know, the
choice OF the average voter will prob
ably be determined by, first. those
whose names have been recommended
a friend: second, those whose
names he has heard of, or a IA
mentioned In print: third.
hose whose names he has not heard
n but who live closest to him: fourth,
whose names. or whose nation
nifty M disclosed by their names, ne
likes best.
On such small things do nominations
'ometimes depend under our primary
aw. | say these are the probable rea-
'ons which Cor many of the
.otes cast at the primaries. This IN
lot said Ia disparagement of the ian
.ellieence Of the voters, but TO show
he shortcomings of the primary Law.
Minority Nominations.
The votes are cast and counted. The
andidates for each Office In each
arty are named. In case of n contest
he nominations are probably made by
minority vote OF those cast mt the ,
rimaries. and IN nearly all cases OF {
ontest, by a decided minority of party ,
trength. This is the first law in Ida
O whereby n candidate could be nomi- $
ated by a minority vote of a party. ,
n primary elections but one ballot =
nm he taken. Under the discarded con s