The Bozeman courier., 1922-05-10
THE PRIMARY LAW.

The merry game of attacking the primary law,
and urging that it be repealed goes on through
the columns of some of the papers of the state
and the arguments put up supporting their con-
tention is interesting if not convincing. Why
the selection of candidates for public office
should be taken away from the voters as whole,
and be placed in the hands of few who would
be selected to do it for them is without explana-
ton satisfactory to the voters
1t will be remembered that the old convention
days were considered to have brought dis-credit
to both the old political parties because of claims,
whether founded on facts or not, that candidates
selected and often elected practically purchased
their Offices 1t is not reasonable to believe that
such was the case, at least in the great majority
of times. However, it was necessary in those
days. for the party conventions to select men of
undoubted qualifications, as their standard bear
ers in the election campaigns. Criticism was laid
upon the convention for weak men placed in nom-
nation for any particular office, and too, credit
was extended to the convention when strong men
were selected, especially after they were success
full at the election.
The fact that since the establishment of the
primary law and election of public officials under
its method of nominations, has resulted in men of
inferior capacity being elected to responsible
posts in county, state and nation is not dis
credit to the primary law. The fault and the
blame lies with the voter. The voter today has
within his means the opportunity of expressing
his choice for the man, or woman, he desires tc
see elected to any particular office. If he does
not take advantage of this opportunity, it cannot
be blamed upon the primary law. The voter
III 1E Iii
didates and he has been given it, so now it is
right up to him to exercise that privilege or abide
by the results without complaint, if the nomina
tions do not go to suit him.
! It's a regretable fact that with but few excep
dstioRs, the primary vote cast to nominate candi
dates for public office is usually less than hal
the voting strength of those registered and whc
have the right to cast ballot. This lack of in
terest in naming the candidates, upon the part O.
the voters, has permitted men to secure nomina
tions, in some instances who were not qualified t.
fill the office to which they aspired. Howeve
j the primary law cannot force the voter to go t.
the poles, and it cannot create an interest in tn
nominating election, in the voter. The votel
4 mustrbe interested in seeing that good men ar
i nominated and must vote for them.
'l The present attempt to agitate against tn
primary law is but an effort upon the part O
some politicians to get back to the old methods
in Montana at least. SO that they may again pre-
tend to themselves and fews unthinking per
sons, that they control politics. In the words G
famous cartoonist, 'those days are gone fol
ever" and the voter will see to it that they neve
return. Gi'
Under the primary law, the bars are let dow
: so that anyone who has the desire to hold offic
d and the nerve to announce that desire, may b
i come a candidate with but little effort There
s. nothing wrong about that. The voter has plent
s of time to look the field over Judge the qualii
e cations of the various candidates. and the right
q cast his ballot for the one he believes can SER
n the public best. If he does not take advantage
6 that right 1t is no fault of the primary law.