The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1915-01-01


tween those SO nominated, after a
choice of evils. OF course. the fiction
of having friend place the candi-
dates name in nomination, and the
candidate accept the nomination thus
thrust on him, is still INDUCED in,
but no one is fooled. The old-time
custom of the office sometimes seek
ing the man is dead.
Expense Limited
Having placed the names of candi-
dates for office properly before the
people, the law provides for nominal
tions to be closed, and the primary
campaign begins. The law then steps
in and says what candidate shall
and shall not do. The theory behind
the law presumes that every voter
shall be thoroughly advised as to the
qualifications of each candidate for
office, so he or she can vote intelli-
gently on the ticket from top to
bottom. This presumes that each
candidate shall place himself before
each voter of the party in some way,
by personal contact, by letter, by
circular, by newspaper advertisement
or comment, or by the word of
friend. All these methods cost
money, and the theory behind the
law cannot be carried out without
it costing money; but the law strictly
limits the amount of money that can
be used by candidates for this pur-
rose. In this way the provisions of
the law nulify the theory behind the
law, and in way destroy the reason
for the laws existance-that the
average voter shall be qualified to
vote intelligently In practice this
expense limit is hindrance to the
timid and Conscientious man only.
Iolitical Parties
The primary law recognizes the ex-
istence and the necessity for political
parties by prov. ling separate allots
for each party at the primary polls.
Having done this, it's duty seem 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
i becomes so bitter that candidates and
their partisans often become bitter
enemies, it thus provides the greatest
engine for party disintegration and
destruction that this country has ever
known. 1t logically follows that this
strife within the parties is strongest
within the ranks of the dominant
party in the county or state, as this
party naturally controls the Office;
In Idaho this party is the Repubh.
can party This party passed the
primary law, and in doing so pro
vided the engine of disintegratioI
which, if the law is allowed to stand
will eventually divide the party intt
factions and retire it from power
Under the primary law party names
are gradually becoming meaningless
and platforms are made to fool thu
! people and justly merit their gibe'
, and scorn, Candidates, being self
nominated, cannot claim party in
dorsement, and without this part.
responsibility ceases.
, ManipulatiOns
, The average voter goes to the pri
, kmary polls to vote, and calls for thu
: ballot of his party, or of some otheI
] party If he chooses, for under thi
/ law the right of any party to contro
t its own nominations is denied
8 this voter is of minority party ant
the placing of names on his part,
3 ballot has been controlled by a sor
| of star chamber proceedings CONTROL
!. ed by his party leaders with the view
r of preventing contests within thu
4 party, then he is at liberty to cal
, for the ballot of the opposition party
e and by his vote in this opposition
!. party he may help to nominate tn,
t weakest candidates on it's ticket
, with view to defeating them at tn,
r general election The primary Law
Q permits this This star chamber pro
= ceedings of minority party, il 1t II
d held, Is wise proceedings. 1t gen
t orally results in good candidates be
: ing nominated 1t avoids contest!
d within the party for any office; Il
0 avoids all tendency to disintergratior
q within the party by these contests
y tand it leaves its voters at liberty tt
s join In making the nominations O.
the candidates of the other party
r getting its weakest men, and defeat
s ing them later.
Voters Qualifications
The average voter takes his ballo
into the booth to mark up. He look
l over the names on the ticket II for
y Itunatp he NAV have a aneakinp az