The Glasgow courier., 1916-04-14

entire accord with that spirit, has not
influenced any one to become a can
didate for delegate, and will be per-
t'ectly satisfied with any delegates
chosen out Of the list now running.
We are entirely willing to abide by
proper Interpretation of the prin-
ary law as applied by those elected"
81 can not make it too strong, and
l desire to make it very clear when
say there has never been, is not
now, and will not be any Cummins
slate of delegates. Nor will any ef-
fort be made by the organization
which l have the honor to represent
to discriminate for or against any one
of the % candidates in the field"
II realize" continued Mr.. Harvey,
"there is some dispositio nto criticise
the Primary Law and to complain be-
cause many of the avowed Republican
presidential candidates do not have
their names upon the Montana bal
lot. This is easily explained. Friends
and supporters of different candidates
filed their names; nobody in the world
but the candidates themselves could
take their names off the ballot. The
Secretary of State would not, and
could not, under the law, remove their
names without direct voluntary re-
quest of each candidate over his own
signature. Who then is to be criti-
cised for the fact that their names
have been withdrawn? They knew
the situation in Montana, or should,
as candidates, have known it. By re-
fusing to allow their names in the
Montana primaries, no one but the
candidates themselves are to blame
for the situation.
"Senator Cummins' name is upon
the ballot. His friends opened head
quarters in Helena on March 1st
when announcement was made that
he desired to obtain the endorsement
of Montana Republicans and thus Sc
cure the instructed state delegation
in support of his candidacy. We
fully expected a sharp contest with
some of the presidential candidates
and were prepared to go through a
campaign upon the strength of Sen
ator Cummins' unexcelled record o1
25 years in public life-a splendid
record in harmony with the prevail
ing sentiment on all great issues, and
one that represents the very best
thought in our present political life
"Senator Cummins desired, and still
desires the endorsement of Montana
Republicans. He was willing and ex'
pected to make contest for it not
an extravagant or spectacular cam
paign in any respect, but a modest
letter writing campaign, the expense
of which is borre solely and only b,
voluntary cont, ibutions from hi
many friends and admirers in Iowa
who know and appreciate his rea
presidential size. For instance, tn
buttons which we are distributing il
Montana are selling readily in lows
from one to five dollars EACH
"Senator Cummins has never evad
ed fight; his whole political careel
has been one continual fight, and Ger
tainly it is too late to bring in /:
charge of that character now, at leas
so far as the situation in Montan'
is concerned. It strikes me as anus
ing in view of the fact that four year
ago bitter complaint was heard tha
Montana had no presidential primar.
law. Serious demands were mad
upon the Governor and members o
the Legislature that an extra session
of the Legislature be immediatel
onvened for the purpose of enactini
a Primary Law to be in operation be
, fore the National Convention in 1919
Now we have primary law, and o
all the candidates who demanded
Senator Cummins is the only one VIII
has the courage or the desire to en-
ter the Montana field in keeping wit
] the proper spirit Of the law"