American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1916-07-27
COUNTY POLITICS.
Number of Announcements lncreases.
and Others Expected-Rum0rs of
"NO Contest. Among Democrats.

Let the People Rule" is the spirit
Of the direct primary law. Thls law
was passed for the purpose OF giving
the people greater measure OF con-
troll of nominations than is posslDle
under the convention plan. In the
smaller units of government, where
everybody knows everybody else, II
is ideal, its only lack of perfection be-
ing the failure OF so large part OF
the people to avail themselves OF the
privilege the law gives them.
In the coming contest for county
nominations the Press is going to
maintain a position of friendly neu-
trality toward all candidates. 1t Will
aid none and oppose none. 1t VIII
give a sufficient amount OF puphclty
to all candidates to impartially lntro-
duce them to the public. After that
they will oe left to their own resources
and may the best man win. The IN
tent and purpose of the primary law
is to give every aspirant for OFFICE an
equal and fair opportunity 10
submit his claims and be judged up
on his merits by his party associates
ANY attempt to interfere with such
freedom. or to deny the members OF
any party the privilege of exercising
a choice between two or more canol-
dates for each position, is violation
of both the letter and the spirit OF
the primary law. The Press VIII
maintain a strict neutrality during
the primary campaign, and Will IN
the campaign preceding the general
election support the Republican ticket
with all the energy and ability it pos
&esses.
Things will be different in the DEM
ocratic ranks If present plans are
carried out. A few of the leaders
have held a convention and decided
to eliminate all contests for places on
the Democratic county ticket. 1t is
even said that they will not have can
didates for all the positions, leaving
some of them vacant to be hlled Dy
the county central committee after the
primaries. Those engineering this
scheme have had considerable to say
in the past, about "bosses" and ring
rule" and will no doubt have an op-
nortunity to defend themselves against
charges of being bosses" and ring
sters' If they persist in their plan
They do not propose TO give mehpeI
ef the Democratic party an opportuhi
tv TO express a preference or TO nave
any choice whatever in the selectioi
of their party's candidates. rms ac
tion on the part of these ieaders
said to have behind it the purpose o
leaving as many members OF theil
party as they can control free to Vot'
a Republican ballot at the primary, u
assist in the nomination OF some lie
publicans and to try to weaken other
bv voting against them, and mus lnul
eating a weakness that has no exist
ence. Advances have been mace u
some who were leaders among IN
Progressives two years ago, 10 Joll
with the Democratic leaders IN PUTIN
thus plan over, but so far as know.
thev have met with no encouragement
In any event they have made such
suggestion to some who did not en-
thuse over the idea. The rank and III
of the Democrats may have their oW
ideas about such matters, and probat
ly will not be slow in saying so.
Let the people rule" is not the sic
gan of the Democratic leaders wh
are trying to perfect this plan but
will be in the general election whe
the members of their party whol
they are trying to disfranchise haV
an opportunity of recording thel
views at the ballot box