The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1922-01-20
price than the office. can possibly be

1t is true that the fight in Michigan
was between money bags, the money
bags Of Mr.. Newberry and his friends
on one side and the money bags Of
Henry Ford on the other Even that
however, does not justify the prodi
gal use of dollars such as character
lied the Newberry campaign.
Mr.. Newberry has contended that he
had no knowledge of how much money
was expended in his behalf and that
he was not party to the expenditures.
That is difficult to believe. but if true
proves that he hasn't intelligence
enough. to say nothing of decensy OF
honor. to sit in any deliberatve or
representative body. no matter how
mediocre that body may be.
The people of this state will find it
difficult to understand why Senator
oOindeXter voted to uphold Mr. New
berry and the methods employed to
elect him. They remember how en-
Dhatic Senator PoindeNtCr was brit q
Few short years ago IN his dennncir.
ion OF everything that bore the re
hottest resombi" nee to the wrongful
use of money in our politics He call
al himself progressive of the rro-
rrcssives and champion Of the ideal
Tie was for driving mammon out Of
American politics. Lorimerizm was
often on his lips as typifying all that
was most hateful in our politics.
But Senator PoindeXter has added
several years of experience to his in
formation and his view point since
those days. He may have a perfectly
valid reason for his vote and a fair
explanation that will satisfy his sup
porters and his constituents. He will
have opportunity this year to set him
self Alright when he enters his cam
paign for reelection.
There is grave matter for consider
alton in this case that should not be
lost sight of in the feeling that is en-
genedered by controversy over New
berry's right to his seat. We may de-
nOunce the methods used in this par
ticular election, but we must face the
facts and be honest enough to confess
that these methods are in common use
throughout the country, elaborated to
shocking degree in the Michigan
election, but only in degree. They are
the methods imposed by the direct pri-
mary system of nominations. Possibly
this is the consideration that influ-
enced Senator PoindeXter to vote for
Newberry. Senator Poindexter was
one of the strongest advocates of the
direct primary law in this state. He
has conducted several successful cam
paigns under that law, and he knows
from personal experience what cost in
money success entails.
% Heavy expenses are inseparable
from the primary system. They simply
have to be incurred ii the candidate is
to make showing. The reason is sifii-,
pie enough. In the primary the indi-
Vldual candidate must build up per-
sonal organization, finance it. and fl
nance the countless means of getting
his name before as many voters as
possible. In every primary contest.
the rsult, as rule, depends on pub
Lefty or personal contact with the
voters. In other words, it is compe-
tition between candidates to get their
appeals to the greater number of cleo
tors. Therefore, the greater the num-
Der OF electors that must be appealed
to, the higher the cost In the case
or senator he must reach as many
OF the voters in the entire state as
possible, for the entire state is his
election district. The whole structure
must be personal and temporary. that
Is, built up for the one contest. Thus it
turns out that the direct primary has
actually resulted in making it more
dliflcult for men without means to
seek office than was true under the
Old party convention system. If a can
didate has not money of his own he
is driven. If he is eager to win. to an
peal to others for financial assistance.
In so doing, he places himself under
an obligation to persons and interests
concealed from the public. This is an
other evil prOpagated by the direct
primary and growing constantly in
American politics. Instead of the pri-
mary giving us untrammeled repre-
sentatives, it is actually giving us
more Of the class of men who are
bound to some clique. or coterie or in
d1viduals more securely than they
could ever be bound by party obliga-
tons. These are facts that are ines
capable. We commit a blind folly if
we refuse to admit these facts because
we have been enthusiastic believers
In the primary system And these facts
impose upon all Of us the duty and the
necessity of finding a workable rem.
edy. People do not want to, nor will
they be brought to return to the old
convention system of nominating can
didates. But under present conditions.
it is obvious that the direct primary is
failing utterly to accomplish what was
promised for it and is at the same time
lowering the tone of our politics, CIV
ing us less efficient government, play
ing into the hands of INSCRIPTIONS
and unprincipled men with the itch
for office and making representative
government farce and a fraud.
4 Mn