The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1916-03-23

gonian.
WHEN THE DIRECT PRIMARY LOSES ITS MERIT
1t is of to the Tribune and very little to anyone
ese who holds the position of Democratic national commit
for Idaho whether the selection be made by the
Democrats at large by their representatives in convention
ut of much concern however the Tribune and to others
that proper selections be made for this and other public posi-
on that the rule under which the selection is made should
be just rule and that it should be the for all candi
dates and all times the rule to be changed to the
advantage of candidate and the disadvantage of another
lit to be rule and becomes device for counting
side in and another side Manifesy such policy
mot prevail in this country in this age and those who have
mistakenly sought to control the organization OF the Demo
cratic party by that method pursuing Illusion that will
cast their ship upon the rocks, if persisted in.
Public law and party policy declare for the direct principle
OF submitting to the people all questions that be submitted
them their will The present Democratic organization
officials are the special evanges and guardians of that pr
cpe In this instance however, they reject the principle and
assign the that their would be defeated
and opponent elected the people allowed to decide
The this result foresee declared that the OPP
posing candidate would spend money freely procuring many
voters from another party and such other
can be used to influence elections In order prevent this
prospective miscarriage the organization has decided
tain the power in its hands and protect the people
from themselves OF it has not been proven but only
assumed that the opposition would money
improperly in conducting the party poll Granting however
that it should do the organization takes the position that
1.-THE people then really unable not alone to rule but
defend themselves at the polls from corrupt Influences
Granting again. the organization to contend, that
people unable defend themselves against the
money which the coarsest and lowest form of political
manipulation how they be expected to resist and defeat
nsdous and refined arts of demagogy the brides
contained in special legislation Offices in favors and priv
eges panderng to their passions feuds and preuces
to which campaigns largely given overa
Having decided that the people should not be allowed to
vote the presented the organization then renorce
tits position with special why the opposition
ddate should not be allowed to have ook-in The
charges against the opposition candidate that he stood
for preferential tolls opposed pursuing Germany on the
submarine question: opposed the Ferris water power BILL and
that local paper suspected of being friendly him had
coped from another paper sighting reference to the pres
idens remarrage; finally that he opposed the
direct primary. These charges-and they all that
set formay may not be sufficiently serious to dsquaf
for Democratic party honors but why not bring them
against the recrean open party combat upon the husngs
and scourge him with the lash of defeat and reputation if
those ideas repugnant in claiming adherence the
Democratic creed? What better chance there vnd
cate the efficacy OF popular rule than to let this candidate
to the polls red his party and there receive the chas
sement the organization asserts he richly deserves? His
money would have bought the election, anyhow will be the
reply But if that these circumstances the whole pr
mary principle and indeed the principle of free institutions
ITSELF have broken down. and the people again
boss rule to autocacy and to benevolent desposm There
lis such emergency will justify such pretenson
ling that appointments to few unmportant federal Offices
that is affected by the outcome The fact that this organza
ton retaining the power in its hands, and making
disneresed choice between two conenders deemed
worthy and the other unworthy adds credit its motives
in the decision made From every standpoint these Demo
cratic leaders, who doubt acting for what they
slider the best have made mistake, have made issue
around themselves that they will find difficult if impos
sbe to justify and given staggering blow to the pet prn
cple upon which they themselves prominence and
in fair to win success their merits had been proof
against the petty temptations that beet the leading
in the ups and downs of recurring campaign ordea
Lewiston Tribune March 10.
A FAITHFUL SERVANT
The splendid showing made by State Treasurer John W
Eageson his report the in which he gives