Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-12-27
QUO PRIMARY LAW.

During the last campaign the Idah'
Primary Law more than fulfilled the pr,
dsction of the editor OF the JoufDs
made At the time the htw was passet
several years ago to the effect that
under the operation Of that Law the pol
liicians would deyelope q machine for
corrupting our elections thnt would
make the Old convention system ma .
chine look like thirty cents and Ross
Tweed a rugged piker AS a corruption
list.
An thinking persons must admit that
our form OF government depends for IT'S
fecurity and perpetuity on the organ
ization OF political parties who are
pledged 70 support such measures as
they conrlder best. II majority vote
that party ticket II must ba considered
as an enforcement OF the policies nd-
vocated by that party and the voters
have some rort OF nm organization
which they cnn hold responsible for
carrying oat the policies desired.
The eheors OF the convention systcm
was based en- n correct principle OF rep |
resentxtiye government. The members
OF each party met IN precinct conyen-
;ions and elected delegates TO a county |
convention who n turn elected dele
gates 10 state convention. II was
"a rare thing for any man to secure q
norninstioc from such conventions who
did not measure up 70 high standard
Of efficiency No party in Idaho how
EYER corrupt In It's intentions, would
have over dared TO renomiaate Al
len for State Treasurer but the primary
election did 10 and although AT the time
OF the election Allen was IN the peni-
votes.
The chief source OF corruption, or at
least the chief cause OF public com
pisint lodged against the convention
system WIS the working OF the secre.
caucus. Thatwus the seat Of all cor
rnptioa In the system.
Yet no political party ever acted In .
Idaho ever used the secret caucus sysm
70 extensively or 40 yiciousiy or as cor
ruptiy Ms did the Nonpartisi,ns inIdaho o
asst summer. They In secret caucus ,
backed heir little precinct meetings. .
hon packed thoir county meetings. and C
tiii tighter packed their state meetsngst
nd then with the results OF ihosc cor
upt practices thoy used the primary
awto bursierizc the Democratic prim-
~ ticket.
cal WAS ever pulled off In Idaho or any W
ther state and II WIS by manipulating u
be primary law that made II possible n,
sr these polshcvikists and diseminat- y
rs OF German propaganda To pun off %
his deal This OF itscif Ia sufficient to :,
oudemn the primary law for repeal. re
ut Il has other inhcrant weakness Just ..
D susceptible OF corruption OF Of inc As
icient service. Under It's workings a.
,ere can be no fixed public policy car ~,
N out. Each candidate becmoes a law GO,
ato hlmself. Each Announces his own al
atfortn. and even when elected docs a.,
II have sufficient co.. operation from the a.
her officials elected cnch on his indi- ~,
dual platform 10 carry out any flxed eb
iicy. even though they each act from us
c very best OF inteations. The prima- In
law encourages and Gevclopcs inef- ~
iency and lack of responsibility be- frIe
use II destroys leadership and leader ,os
In a. necessarily TO successful accom- ~.
shmen, ia public matters. lini the
strucsl ~ of ieadrshcip ~ exactly the ~
a sought by the designing IN corr ~,
Z politicians who fathofed thA prima- ~,
law ard they are the onlyoncs who ~
We bnsfted by its operations. ~,