Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1915-07-22

D-tA~g NAEA NAACAC - NJ L[fACAs VI
myself, believing firmly as I do Re
lieye in the efficacy of this law and
its final triumph and IT'S final sue
cess, shall never under any cir
cumstances give my consent to TAX
ing it off the statute books or deny
the people this power
Conditions Worse Before Primary.
Some have said to me also that
We had no such condition of at
fairs before the primary. How short
are their memories. I an not going
into past history unless It becomes
necessary. But 1 have SEN both sys-
TENS work in the state and bad as
conditions now are they were in
finiteIy worse under the old system.
II anyone should ever submit to the
people Of this state the proposition
Of repeating the primary / should
feel constrained to represent some
Of the facts relative to conditions
under the old system in this state.
There was a time in tbs state
when the price Of member OF the
legislature IN a senatorial contest
ranged from $3.50 to a pair Of hand
me-down pants, cheap walking cane
and IS, the latter Of which was won
back in a poker game the same
night. They have no primary in In
diana, but when I was there last
October both Democrats and Repub-
Leans told me Of the fearful condi-
tons and how powerless they were
to help themselves. They had appar-
entity become thoroughly aroused to
the stupendous debauchery that was
going on, but they were poweriess
They made fight for a primary,
but having to depend upon the satel-
Iites of the machine they were de-
feated IN the legislature They had
no primary IN Ohio at the tine Of
the dreadful exposure there They
had none in New York for years
At last that far-seeing statesman,
Justice Hughes, made fisht for q
primary, but even under his leader
ship they were able 10 secure only
a most inefficient law.
q agree that if the primary
sleeps upon the statute books IN
used, if the people do not avail
themselves Of its advantages, It will
Of course, be utterly without avail
But I know that if they will but
use Il, II is one of the effective
instruments Of clean and efficient
government. I beg you not TO give
Il up. You will live TO regret IT,
When the time comes and you are
fully determined to act you viii
find yourselves powerIess TO act
Would Support No Man Against 1t.
AT least, before It is repealed,
let's have the issue presented open
Iy and before the people; let some
party or some aspiring candidate 70
high office declare il to be his plat
form and let's present It fairly and
square1y-that is fair, that is the
right way to dispose Of q great ques-
ton. For myself, want TO be heard
upon the question and if 1 live and
hold my health I shall be heard
want to be frank with my party
md with all concerned. l would
support no man for a responsible Of
Zee who was pledged either TO its
.epeaI or TO its emasculation, and |
would unbesitatngly deuounce any l
latfoTm in which such a doctrine
7as written. 1 have given long years
o its consideration and TO its advo-
acy, and though the people them
elves should want to be rid OF
am so convinced Of its ultimate
enefit that 1 will utilize all the
over I have to put it lack am
OF willing TO have a great measure,
measure which enters vitality into
Il moral fiber and intellectual stat
-e Of q whole people Judged by its
orkings for a day or for weeks or
r months-a great policy affe-ting
e morals, the education and the
lysical welfare OF the whole peo-
e can only be rightly judged as you
atch its workings through the long
-eep of the years.
But I am told that the pendulum
swinging back. Some people thlnk
and some pray il is so and there
re say so. They say that the peo-
, are firing OF these matters. Well
the pendulum swing-others VIII :
as they think best, but so far
1 am concerned l will wait until
comes back. l have not, as you all
ow, moved as rapidly as some
It were on the move in these mat
5. l have by no means gone as
fifty as some because / believe IN
.miniug before accepting, and ex-
lining with caution and dellbera-