Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-03-07
THE INDEPENDENT VOTER

The Independent voter is the intelligent voter. The
voter who selects his ticket and votes it straight regard
less Of the he votes for is an ignorant
voter citizens franchise sacred trust to be used
to further the best interests of the entire country In
casting his ballot he is performing function OF govern
ment and should not be bound in his decision by party
lines at least in the selecting of state and county officials
In choosing the president the senator's and representa-
ves in congress there is political question to be
act there was such question: but has about vanished
The democratic party once conservative, mas become
more radical and the republican party formerly ex-
tremey radical has dlfted toward conservatism until
the lines between the parties have about vanished
In state county and municipal affairs there IS a6So
utey nothing political far party concerned Inc
only matter before the voter is to decide Wmch Oh he
candidates is the better qualified for the especial office
Whether candidate for the gOvenorshp is democrat
or republican should have no more to DO with his elec
ton than whether he was baptist or methodlS or Wor
shipped in some other church. whether ne was mar
red or single or used brand Of auto or an other
The question: and the only one that should decide tne
matter is the qualification for the place Ihe ndVloua
voter in selecting to do his own work does not ASK
concerning politics religion, why snould ne 90 50 III
selecting someone to do the states work!
Parties represent certain principles, and are simply
convenience to the voter Before the elections each has
convention and prepares a platform announcing us
noston ON matters of public policies is then up to the
voter to say which Of these plans OF conducting the gov
ernment most nearly conforms to his ideas and Dehe1s
When he has settled that question to his own satsIac
ton it is his duty to vote that party tcKeC ms al
elections where politics really have some bearing me
independent voter takes this course. He does not be
long" to any party but votes as his belief and his IN
telligence directs.
called on to elect state and county officers and that is
why this suggestion is made now when the accusation
will not be made that it is simply an effort to help the
democratic party 1t applies to all parties, to all
places and to all voters alike The democrat is no more
excusable for voting for incompetent man than is
republican or the voter of any other party.
This state has had more than one example OF the eVs
fo1sh
ability and the party habit is alone responsible for It,
Just SO long as state officers elected on the party plan
will that condition be likely to occur If an incompetent
democrat for office overlook him on election Day
and if the republican is no good honor him by leaving
him at home Your ballot provides you with officers
Just as your money does with necessares Use that bal
lot as sensbly as you would your dollars IN making a
personal investment and you will have done your whole
duty as citizen and until you do this you are not acting
the part of good and sensible, intelligent American
voter.