American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1915-07-22

offend thee cut it off and cast 1t from
thee" Let's be open and candid, let's
be bold to deal with this situation and
the good results will apear from the
hour of a resolve to do so.
Now, my friends, there is only n
remedy for this situation. The pass
age of some statute will not avail.
There are some things the citizen
must do of his own initiative and no
form of legislation a take the place
of II. The spasmodic display of q
righteous indignation will not suffice.
The effort of a few public spirited
men can accomplish nothing perma-
nent or decisive. The remedy lies in
the aroused and determined effort OF
a whole people-of the voters. We
must have a cool, deliberate, but de-
termined purpose upon the part of
the voters, n keen sense of civic re-
sponsibilty, an intelligent and sus-
tanned public opinion in order to ac-
complish anything worth while or any
thing permanent. Nothing can take
the place in such a situation of the
individual responsibility of the citizen.
Nothing can suffice for that state pride
which Will bring us to look with jeal-
ousy and vigilance upon this common
wealth of ours with whose veal or
woe our individual welfare is wrap
ped up. The remedy lies with you
the voters. / beg you to realize the
responsibility and take the initiative.
/ plead with you to give this great
cause your serious reflection, give to
Il your time and your energy. Others
may have their remedies but l can
find no hope except as ] find 1t in the
aroused and determined purpose OF
the peope a. large. In the sustained
interest of the masses. The means
are at your command. In this state a
man cannot be a candidate for office
without your approval II you are Of
the mind to have 1t SO. This instru-
mentality Of government Is In your
control.
Some people in the state urge h a
we repeal the primary law-arguing
that we can do better without 1t. and
that under the old system things were
much better. / do not assail the mo-
tives of those who SO contend. !
know some of our best men think b a
way-doubt not at all their sim
certify. but speaking for myself, am
unalterably and uncompromisingly OPP
posed to its repeal OF to Its emascula-
ton. l am not willing to lake the
weapons of political warfare out OF
the hands of the people at the very
time when W. are applying to the peo-
pie for action and are getting ready
for war. So far as ! am concerned
| prefer to leave the power with the
people and rely upon them to see the
necessity of it's use and to faithfuliy
make the use rather than to take
away the power and rely upon the
sinister, selfish interest of politicians
meeting in caucus behind closed doors
and through the manipulation OF ma
chine strategy to protect the rights
and interest of the people. A people
who have not the energy, the intia-
tive, the patriotism, to select their
candidates are equally unworthy and
unfit to elect them n there Is just
as much argument to repeal the law
for election as the law for selection,
And indeed the Indifference as to the
election is now almost as marked az
that of selection. There were as many
votes cast for the candidates fol-
United States senator at h Republi-
can primary at the last primary cleo
ton as there were for the successful
: candidate for governor two years be-
fore at the ~election-and shall we also
take away the right of the people to
elect their candidates? In the presi.
, dental election of 1908 I'm one state
: alone over 100, 900 voters remained
away from the polls on election day
; i repeat, shall we also repeal the
election law? In the adoption of state
! na,gtitpt{apu and mandarin IN Qtatf
! constitutions statistics show that less
, than one-third of the voters record
: their approval or disapproval-shall
we take away also the right of the
, people to a referendum on the char.
, ters under which they live? No, the
I logic of these gentlemen proves toe
I much. The remedy lies not I'm shear
] ing the people of their power but In
J doing our part to show the supreme
necessity of their exercising that pow
= er. If the people at large are not tc
I furnish the relief, If they do not rise
to the responsibility, then'there is ne
) relief. For myself. believing firml,
. / DO believe, I'm the efficiency of this
law and its final triumph and III
final success. | shall never, under any
( circumstances give my consent to TAX.
= ing II off the statute books or deny
= O. people this power.
' Some have said TO me also that We
Z had no such condition OF affairs be.
fore the primary. How short are
.hcir meorios. I am not going into
past history unless ~ becomes neces.
sary but ! have seen Doth systems
,uik III the state and bad as condi.
o. io-e now are they were infinitely
rcrse under tie old system. II any
one should ever submit to the people
. h's state the proposition of repeal.
ing the primary ] should feel con
reiuet % represent some Of The facts
relative 20 conditions under the ole
system in this state. There vas 2
time IN this state when the price 81
5 ,acnbrr Of the Legislature in the
! senatorial contest ranged from S175t
= 10 n pair Of hand-me-down pants. a
Y cheap walking cane and five dollars
o. the latter Of which was won back IN
! 2 rocker game the same night. They