The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1920-08-30
JUDGE A|LSH|E
WANTS PRIMARY LAW
WELL KNOWN IDAHO JURIST
DECLARES VOTERS DIS
GUSTED WITH NEW LAW.

That the present socalled primary
law of Idaho is unsatisfactory to the
voters of the state, who want to re.
turn to the old primary system, is the
statement of Judge j. F. Ailshie, for
mer member of the supreme court
and candidate, in 1918 for United
States senator. Judge Ailshie has
given to the press the following
statement of his opinion of the pres
ent law and the need of change
His statement, in the form of a warn
ing to the voters of Washington
state, follows
Idaho Made Mistake
Keep watch that no one tampers
with your primary election law. Some
will complain and say it is failure
and want to go back to the old ma
chine-ridden system, but don't let
them do it.
Idaho Primary Law
1--WE made the mistake in Idaho of
repeating our primary law, instead
of making some amendments and
strengthening our primary system as
we should have done. The result is
that we have q law that has been
etiioiddoUCu IOl IliS ldSI ~ Y6dCS-lU
is worse than the old-time convention
system. 1t is so framed that in it's
practical operation, no one outside
the organization has a show or
scarcely voice.
A county convention is purely a
creature of the county committee and
can be constituted and organized as
the county organization sees fit. No
one can become a candidate for a pre-
cinct committeeman, delegate to
county convention, a county office or
even a district judge without taking
oath that he has been a voter with
his party during the last two years,
and then he must have certificate
from the county chairman or a ma
jority of the county committee Or five
members of his party that they know
he has been affiliated with his party
for two years.
Idaho has approximately 145, 900
voters, and / think it is a safe esti-
mate to say that there were not 25,-
900 votes cast in both parties at the
recent so-called primary election.
Handicaps Cause Disgust
This was not because of apathy or
lack of political interest on the part
of the voters, but was rather due to
disgust over the handicaps, trouble
and red tape which the present law
throws in the way of the elector hav-
ing an opportunity of voting for any
one whom he may choose to support.
1t has been difficult to find persons
who were willing to become candi-
dates for delegates, committeeman
and county officers on account of the
conditions under which he had to file
and have certified his application to
run.
The voters appreciate what has
happened under this freak election
law and will watch with interest to
see what the respective party state
platforms say about it's repeal. After |
all, perhaps the most lamentable fact |
about the entire law is that it takes |
the courts into politics. Before a man |
ian become a candidate for district |
Judge he must satisfy the political |
he has been faithfully |
yoting his party ticket. Political |
Fealty is the only legal requirement |
IS to fitness for nomination to this |
office.
mo one party in Idaho is any more
% blame for this law than the other
and the only rational thing for the
to do at the approaching
tate convention is to declare in favor
# restoring the direct primary for
he nomination Of all candidates, both
,ounty and state and also for presi-
lential primary as well. If the re-
publican party fails to take this po-
ltlon 1T is a safe guess at this time
hat the next Idaho legislature will be
for it is foregone con-
fusion that the democratic conven-
ION will declare itself in favor of re-
toring the primary law.
Idaho Is Republican
Idaho is republican and nothing
ut overconfidence and blunders on
he part of the republicans them
elves can cause the state to go dem
cratic this year. The tide is repub-
can, but any backward step by the
arty management or representa-
ives, or manifest desire to limit the
lective franchise of the people will
e resented at the polls.
Another thing we ought to have,
nd | hope to see Idaho adopt, is a
mall creditors court; that is, court
nat is bound to hear the evidence
and examine the witnesses
n both sides, and prohibit either
arty appearing by attorney.
every lawyer knows that the ,
mall creditors, and especially labor
lg people, have but little show to !
aalize anything out of small claim
they have to sue and employ an
ttorney to represent them and if !
ley do not have an attorney they !
ill have but little chance against !
lie debtor who is represented by :
ounsel. The court procedure is too !.
slow and expensive for
le man with small claim and no
leans with which to meet the ex-
enses of litigation. We are behind '
le times in this respect" Y