The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-02-14
WEDNESDAY MORNING. FEB. Ia. 1917.
THE ARK OF THE COVENANT

The one powerful weapon Of offense and defense
that the people now possess. in most Of the States
the primary law.
Invisible government and the professional poGti-
clan hate it with incorporating hatred. They
leave no stone unturned to magnify its minor de-
ecs; they delight in calling attention to its failure
to make perfect score in all cases; they shed tears
over its great cost the would gladly repeal it, root
and branch, if they were convinced that such action
would not arouse languid public opinion to a
storm Of protest.
Knowing that its total repeal by legislative enact
ment would surely and certainly invite an imme-
diate referendum to the people themselves. they
would. alternative proposition. seek to pull its
teeth by amendments" that would give the voters
the right to elect the delegates and invisible govern
ment the right to manipulate these same delegates in
conventions which name the candidates.
If that proposal seems to invite too much oppos-
ton they would still further compromise and permit
county candidates. whose duties when elected are
devoid Of any responsibility except that Of recording
deeds, laying off school districts, building county
roads. collecting taxes and serving criminal processes.
ing governors and supreme court ud ge and senators
and congressman is reserved for manipulated control.
The stories now emanating from Helena seem to
agree that an attempt will be made to thus emascu-
late the real power of the people before adjournment
OF the present session.
We hope the proposed movement will not be sue
cessful But in the event that it should be, those
who believe that the people should retain the rights
that they have already will simply get out the
necessary petitions to again ray their first decision
in this matter. by taking referendum at the polls
in 1918.
he record vote Of their senators and represen-
tatves on this matter will be scanned with as much
lasting interest anything that has happened in re-
cent years in Montana politics and will be laid up
IN the archives OF their memory for future reference,
y - y y
In this connection we herewith reproduce an
editorial that recently appeared in the Billings Jour
nal which to US evidential Of the fact that
there may be an awakening in some parts Of the
state TO the conditions that threaten:
over Montana rests ugly cloud that
apparently can only be scattered when pop
uIation becomes sufficient that
corporations money is big enough to
rupt or dominate II. But mere population
Will not do the trick The people must them
selves have acquired rcpulsion to the
loding and corrupting influences that have
lot this thing com" and stay. They will have
to demand irreproachohe character in the
men who dare assume to represent the peo-
PIE in rubc life. .
But III" time is coming WHEN this sinister
thing is going to be broken. It will take cd
ucAtion and moral strength. A majority Of
the county papers have backed the first at
tempt and great wave is accommodating that
will bring results, They must be prepared
TO keep it up. Men OF Montana must take
the Snirk from their faces when wits hint
at corruption and tell of ugly tricks by
which legislation for the people in the past
has been baked. They must spurn
rult and crooked official and kick him out
no matter what political party is Disrupted
Honors must not come again any man
woman who in tho past has been known
as creature OF the invisible thing.
a corroding, hateful something is this ugly
cloud. and another generation of Mon
,ana's youth should not be permitted TO
grow up under its influence 1t is dcsiruc-
tive and will keep the commonwealth forticth
in education, low in litcracy and unpopu-
lated by that high type of citizenship which
has made such wonderful states our Dor
der in a very short time.
But to return to the concrete thng---the primar
law. Its enemies say that primary nominating cleo
tons cost money. Of course they do So do ger
eral elections that follow A session Of the legisls
ture costs money So do roads and deputy gam
wardens and public schools and district courts.
But the thing that puzzles some Of US is just no,
an amendment to the primary law that permits tt