The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1920-08-10
HON. v. {. BORAH
TO SPEAK TONIGHT
PROMINENT IDAHO POLITICAL
LEADER HERE-WANTS RE-
TURN TO OLD PRIMARY

TURN TO OLD PRIMARY
Hon. William E. Borah, senior SEM
tor Ior Idaho and prominently mer
uoned as presidential possibility o
numerous occasions, is to speak i
Eggan's hall tonight at O'Clock an
the public is invited to hear hin
-Borah is one of the best speakers i
the United States senate and his ser
vices are in demand. He is maxim
a tour of the west in the interest O
senator Harding and the republical
ticket
Senator BOrah has been in Spokan
for several days consulting with prom
lnent CITIZENS of Idaho and Washington
including Senator Poindexter, of Wash
1ngton, and Charles w. Beale, of Wal
lace, who is candidate for the re
publican nomination to succeed Sena
tor Nugent. He spent Sunday in Spo
kane and of his visit there The Spo
kesman-Reyiew said:
Senator William e. Borah of Idaho
In an interview yesterday at the Dav-
enport hotel fired the first shot in his
campaign to restore the direct pri-
mary system in Idaho in place of the
present combination primary and con
vention plan.
Keep Senator's Phone Busy
The senator remained in his room
yesterday answering phone calls
which he received from all over north
Idaho practically all day. His timer
ary for this week now stands tenta-
lively: MOSCOW, Tuesday; Lewiston,
Wednesday; OrOfino, Friday; Grange
vile, Saturday. Next week he will
devote to the towns of the panhandle,
Standpoint, Bonners Ferry, Coeur
d'Alene and Wallace
Few Idaho politicians have come to
see him, making use of the telephone
instead. G. w. Beale of Wallace, a
senatorial aspirant, made him a visit
and also called on Senator Poindexter
At noon, Senator Borah took lunch-
con with Evan Evans of Grange
Vile, his close personal friend.
Wants Old Primary Law
Senator Borah is opposed to the
present primary law and in an inter
view concerning it and the desire Of
Idaho citizens for return to the old
primary law, said:
Ayers Voters Resontful
read an editorial in The SpOkes-
man-Review a day or two since ex-
pressing apprehension because of the
apathy of the voter as evidenced by
the negligible vote at the so so-called
primary in our state If the voter
was simply apathetic, it would not be
SO bad, but l find that he is rssentful.
He looks upon the present election
1cV ot; jcf, I, s,f
the voter who does not make-a pro
cupied with his work or iii his ayoca-
ton There was practically 70 vote
in our so-called primary In many
except the candidates and a few of
their immediate supporters.
"Over in Kansas at the same time
they had primary election under a !
genuine primary in which there was
a tremendous vote, the successful |
candidate receiving 10000 majority. |
Does any one have any doubt as to
which system more nearly records
the views of the average voter or the
people at large?
Both the democratic and republic
an parties joined in the repeal of our
primary law. The democratic party
will undoubtedly acknowledge the err
rOr of judgment and insist upon
restoration of the primary. The re-
publican party should do the same
thing. If it does not do so it will
lose the legislature in my judgment
and probably the state ticket. 1t is
not only, therefore, matter of JUS
tice to the people of the state, but
q matter of political expediency that
the party declare itself in favor of
he primary. Those who are anxious
about party integrity need not be
uneasy. A primary law can be drawn
which is a real primary law and yet
protect the party integrity. Besides,
it does not do very much good to have ;
party integrity if you do not have
any votes.
Must Restore Primary
THE progressive liberal vote of the
holds the balance of power
n every state practically in the I'm
on north of the Mason and Dixon line.
Both the candidates for president un- !,
lerstand this and are wisely court
ne this vote. But we, in Idaho, will
lot have much chance to appeal to :
he progressive or liberal vote of the
state if we insist on taking the most
'eactOnary step with reference to
elections which has been taken by
my state that | know of. Not only
,ught the party to declare for the +
primary, but each candidate for the =
legislature should state his position. !
"It is mistake to assume that the Z
,eople are generally apathetic over
he great questions and problems of
oday. They are deeply interested in
hem never have witnessed such 4
interest as has been manifested in r
daho since came home But the .
armers and laborers particularly, and h
low, since they have seen it work, 4
many of the business and professional n