The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-02-28
WEDNESDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY g. 1917.
TO REPEAL THE PRIMARY LAW.

Being now convinced that it is firmly in the
saddle and that it securely holds majority Of
the present Montana legislature in the hollow of its
hand. the word has been passed by the directing
agents Of invisible government, who are in SUI
pervisory control at Helena, that the hated primary
law must be repealed before the present session
adjourns
The McCone bin that proposed to turn over all
nominations to faithful band of elected dele
gates" chosen two years ahead of the nominating
conventions, received majority vote in the state
senate, but the house found its provisions too rank
and refused concurrence.
1t is now proposed to revamp the McCone BILL so
as to permit the people to name in a primary the
unimportant offices of clerk and recorder county
treasurer constabes justices of the peace and other
local officials, but to take away from them the
right to name their governor, attorney general,
judges of the supreme court senators and con-
gressmen
1t is now proposed to fill these positions by the
good old convention system, where the delegates
can be properly looked after by the oldtimc meth
DDS that indispensable to perfect control by
invisible government.
OF course the amended McConc bill" does not in
any way lessen the cost of the primary No one
except the unsophsticatcd have been misled bv the
loud talk about the great cost of the primary any
way. That argument was only advanced to give
the plastic legislator excuse for his action in
betraying the people. whose representative he tenn
porarily is.
The program is to rush the amended Nc
Cone bill' through both houses during the closing
days. while the attention of the public centcrcd
on the probable break with Germany. The orders
to put the McCone bill through by main strength
and awkwardness.
What if the of the people do protest against
handful of men at Helena deliberately repeating :.
law that voted by the people themselves by the
biggest majority ever given measure. since the
state was admitted into the Union?
When the thing is done and signed by the
governor. what can they do about it? OF course a
few of the newspapers--not many-will protest and
a great majority of the voters will gr,lmblc bu, who
cares? On with the dance let our joy be ,ncon-
fined. We have again come into own and will
not be again seriously disturbed when arranging
nominations both tickets
Without exaggeration, that is the set program
at Helena. Most of the big daily newspapers are
in open approval of the PLAN There have been and
few brave men at Helena who dare to speak
out and tell the truth about the matter Their
services at this critical juncturc, when the move
ment is now on in full force to destroy popular gov.
IN, mt che
future.
But should they be unsuccessful in stcmming the
tide, those who realize the danger and who are
interested in seeing the people retain the vantage
ground that they won after long years of struggle,
have It in their power to nuNfy the action Of a
majority of the present legislature.
Under the referendum power vested in the people,
under the amendment to the state constitution they
can circulate the petitions for sufficient signatures
to hold the of the Legislature in allegiance until
the next general election.
We have not the slightest doubt that this will be
done. in the event that the amended McConc bi'
passes both houses and is signed by the governor.
Il now looks as il it may take one more fight to
retain the rights that the people of this state
four years ago.
II II becomes necessary to circulate petitions to
refer .thc McConc bilr to the people in 1918 it will
cost only q few dollars more to print some more
petitSons and initiate law that will compel in
visible government to pay it's just proportion OF
axes on It's big copper mines. that last year, with
on,v ;es cent copper. yielded net profits of more
than ,so,ooo.o 900 to their New York owners
Possibly, on sober second thought, halt may