Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-02-24
ANSWERS CRITICS
AT RECENT BANQUET
Suggests Two Ways in
Which Issue May Be Sub
mitted-- Makes Public Let
ter Written During Ses-
sion Of Legislature in 1915


News: ! have just read an account
In your paper of the Lincoln day cele-
bration and that the two subjects Of
attack, covert and open, were myself
and the primary law. did not sup
pose that my position upon this mat
ter was subject to misunderstanding
In the report Of the meeting 1t Is said,
Senator Whitcomb blames Borah for
failure to amend the primary law"
The able senator Is in error If he sup
poses that l am or have at any time
been opposed to an effort to amend
the primary law. An intelligent and
friendly effort to amend the law would
have my hearty approval. / would
like to see any defects which 1t has
remedied. ! have been opposed to
those plans which have had for their
purpose the emasculation or destruc-
ton of the law under the guise OF
amendments. To amend the law for
the purpose of making 1t more effec-
tive and for rendering the principle
upon which 1t is based more efficient
Is one thing; to profess to amend 1t
for the purpose OF destroying It is an
put any opposition in the way of
amendments which have for their OBJ
Ject the making Of the law more ef-
ficient.
So much for the question of amend
ment. l note further this statement:
Men in high places have betrayed the
trust Of the people," That Is supposed
TO have had reference to myself II
shall only say at this time that am
not conscious at any time OF having
betrayed the trust of the people of
Idaho. ! may submit that question
later to the people as they alone who
are supposed to have been betrayed are
best fitted to pass upon that ques-
ton. ! am in favor Of the primary
law, always have been and have ex-
pressed myself pcrsistently and in
sistently and earnestly upon 1t and in
regard to 1t. I concede to those who |
honestly hold different view with
equally good motives and patriotic
purposes the same right. ! do not feel
that l am called upon to surrender
my convictions upon these matters and |
I certainly do not want any one to
his convictions out of per-
sonal regard to myself.
FOR FAIR PRESENTATION.
II those who are in favor of repeal
ing the primary law will make that
the issue before the election instead
OF after the election and the people
approve OF their course ! shall. of
be bound to respect the judg-
nent Of the people But feel that be-
fore this law Is repealed the issue
ought to be squarely and fairly pre-
sented to the electors in campaign
where the subject matter can be thor
discussed. / have said repeat
edly both privately and publicly. that
no man could be censured or criti.
,ized for advocating the repeal OF the
primary law. but that I thought 1t
ought to be presented openly before
he tribunal which alone ought to be
to have the right to pass
upon II, and that liz the people Of the
state.
In order. therefore. to bring this
question squarely before the only
tribunal which ought to decide It
he voters of the state-I suggest to
hose who are in favor OF an open
Ind complete repeal OF the primary
nd a substitution of something in Its 9
,lace that they present their bill to
his leRisloture embodying the repeal
4 the primary law and the substitute I
or the law--one OF those convention {
ubstitutes which Ia TO be robbed Of |
ts possibility OF going back to the /
Id practices and incorporate In this q
aw and as a part Of 1t a referendum /,
L the same to the vote Of the people. I
Formulate your law just as tho peo- ,
lie will have II In case they repeal |
he primary law and adopt your law
nd then by II special referendum in
in this particular law refer
he whole matter back TO the people I
or a vote. This seems to me fair. q