Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1914-07-16

We have reached time when every in the party is
called upon be direct active militant factor in it's destiny
The approach congressional and senatorial elections
1914 is bugeca to the individual democrat Elections
great opportunity for leadership But dstncvely pre-
emnenty, they the opportunity of the rank and fle
party is strong it's voters. During the intervals
between elections large share of party duty is inevitably
delegated Only of many millions be president few
governors representatives and when
look the of public and party service every
of its administration legislative and judicial capacities
realize that the representative principle which nsu
lions founded presupposes that those who such
functions will always be limited in NUMBER compared with
those who make the selections of those who shall exercise them
But the right of elective choice which is the voters right
exclusively the greatest of American rights And that right
has been enormously far to make the
voting which will take place this fall chapter in
that immortal history of in the hands Of the peopeth
annals of the American electorate.
Direct election of United States Senaors-up till recently
merely practice in states and in others not recognized
at ALL has by amendment to the national constitution
become the law of the whole country and every Many
terms in the United States Senate approaching their end
and these seats will be flednot by the of lega
lures, but by the votes of the people,
The democratic principle of direct election of United States
senator's has its twin brother in the Direct Primary whose
scope has been immensely expanded for instance by the
cent enactment of most comprehensive direct primary law
the great commonwealth of New York.
So in the of the elective franchise this fall the
voter will exercise broader franchise than he had
preceding congressional election and the grandeur of the task
placed in his hands, accenuaed to the democratic voter
both by his duty of maintenance of democratic principles
peuaon of democratic rule and by the fact that the elective
franchise ITSELF it stands today is in certain important
spects franchise representing wider scope for the
divdual than hitherto
House Representatives is to be elected and SO
many senatorial elections to take place. that is
geation to that senate is of the issues in the
ing campaign Powerful and sinister elements work
they have been every stage of democracy
than century of battle for popular rights nufy
efforts of democracy, to call halt it's superb
achievement to hadcap altogether further
by deprvng the administration Washington of the egsa
tive support which is assured to by congress democratic
both branches.
We have idea that special privilege seeking to make
the congressional elections the vehicle of usurpaon can
ceed but its existence is sufficient emphasize para
mount duty of guarding ourselves against and aggressive
united action to foresta it, and drive it beaten lair
In that duty is the great dominant significance the ap
preaching congressional campaign to the democratic
every locality state and throughout the nation Theirs the
business of preserving intact from INVASION the democratic
prestige which has been attanedo the perpetuty
the power which the people hold through the democratic
administration and at Washington No nober or
more responsible mission has been confed democrats
than this, and democracy all democrats Individual
democrat who represents his party truly his party rep
resens him.