The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1915-07-15
THE PRIMARY.


Among those who consistently ad
vocated the passage of a primar,
election law for Idaho, few remain
who are not as earnestly urging il
repeal. The evils which it was be
iieved would be corrected have beer
augmented. The old convention sys,
tenn was far superior 70 the present
law, and unless it can be so changed
as to remedy the evils which have
been so apparent at every election
since its passage, the law should be
repealed. 1t has not a single redeem
ing feature to recommend it.
The Statesman, in recent editor
ial, plainly points out the weakness
Of the present law:
e At a meeting of the Idaho Republi-
can state central committee Senator
Borah congratulated the body on its
work and spirit and said: And then
give to the people in the coming
campaign a ticket the character of
which no man can question.
Later on in his speech he said:
! would not compromise, and the pri-
mary is one of them"
In the latter remark the senator
initiates strongly against the possi-
bility of success for the idealism con-
tanned in his preceding statement.
The history of primaries i'm Idaho
reveals the extreme difficulty of the
majority party selecting through i'll
"a ticket the character of which no I
man can question Speaking broad |
ly, and admitting exceptions to the .
rule, the primary has given the party
poorer candidates than did the old
convention system, bad as it was.
We believe II will be generally con-
coded that had we been given state
convention through county primaries
10 nominate that ticket certain objec-
tionable candidates would have been
eliminated
The truth is that with relation to
state officers the majority party is
powerless TO nominate "a ticket the
character Of which no man can ques-
tion," or even a Republican ticket
McCracken was nominated for CON
gress and elected Who regards him
as a Republican on his political
record?
All that Allen had TO do was to give
the impression he was not going TO
be a candidate for a third term so as
20 invite several candidates TO enter ,
the race, thus dividing the vote
against him 10 insure his nomination.
The Republican party had no power
10 remove Allen and had he elected
10 90 TO trial his name would have re- '
NAMED on the Republican state ticket.
Nearly two-thirds of the Republic
cans Of Idaho were opposed TO Allen
but were pOwerless TO prevent his r
at the primaries. This a
was evidenced by the vote. Out of a h
.otal of 33,40S first choice votes for "
he four candidates for state treas
lrer on the Republican primary ticket
allen received only 1871 but was cl
dominated. y,
On the other hand, the minority >
,arty can nominate a good ticket a.
whenever il wants to, for its selec- OF
ions are made in some back room as re
rule with one man nominated Tor r.
ach office, or il two are nominated
or any Office one of them is usually III
Unknown and the other well known wi
nd popular in his party.
That operation releases the minor
" party and permits it TO extend its
1fluence to help the majority party yo
elect "a ticket the character of which in'
o man can question" and then, as 81
con as it is nominated, TO undertake ret
ne assassination of every character :. ,
n the ticket.
There is much that is good and de- 20
.rable involved in the direct primary TO
II should work perfectly oi,
, county matters, and, with the short
allot, in state nominations, but to SCI
ut the public unnecessarily to the
.ouble of holding primary to noml-
ate a lot of minor state officers who
re- unknown to the large majority clio
nd compel these candidates to make OF
campaign in 33 counties II tney og
ould become known, is on the lace rei
I it an absurdity.
The primary law, as at present con- io'
ituted, will, in our opinion, kill any ba
aiority party. 1t alienates from the col
arty and from public service many vo
len that the party and the public III
eed. 1t is absolutely destructive of a..
arty responsibility and subversive of III
arty policies in the mind of the pub fol
What credence may the people be
spected to indicate in party plat
'rm adopted under our present sys- lit
I'M which in many respects conflicts CHI,
18th the personal platform of candi- ,,,o
ates? W.
The present system also makes a ste