, 1922-02-20

AAIA &oAAAnA0A0 ALAALAL4 KOHL
in which he condemns the Wyoming
many specific fawz The governors
v1ewz VIII find sympathetic ears all
over b state He said:
Tho tims is approaching when the
people have the right and are pre-
stunned to have the opportunity at the
primaries, to decide who the candi-
dates OF their respective political par
teS shall DO to be voted for at the
fall election for state. Legislative.
county and congressional offices I
gay presumed to have the opportuni-
ty' because II Is merely n presump-
ton, and q ~fniiacious Presumption at
that-the present obnoxious direct
primary statute 70 the contrary not
withdrawing. Without intending any
reference whatever &c any particular
persons. b treating the subject as
an abstract question I think that un-
DER tho direct primary method any
Tom. Dick or Harry-any incompe-
tent - undesirable p~crson--haa.. at
the very least n rs per cent chance
TO nominate himself; for. ~ his f.
the only name On the primary ticket
for q particular offics. he becomes the
party nominee 5ecnuse there is not
one chance In a hundred thousand
that the voters Will concentrate on
any other person and east enough
votes by writing his name on the pri-
mary ballot. TO nominate him.
The record OF this direct pri-
mary nomination method. since It
was unfortunately adopted in 1911.
shows that n people. as a whole.
take little interest IN primary .nomi-
nation voting. usually the number OF
votes cast vt general election Ia three
or nour times the number cast at the
time OF primary 'nominations.' The
ten years trial OF this method has
also shown, n It 10 n well known
and acknowledged fact. hat the best
and most competent men VIII not
seek office through this method. they
will not go to the expense OF two am
paigns and also contend with a chin
ney sweep. and thoy cannot be draft
cd by the primary. So tho incom-
petent, or worse. Tom. Dick or Harry
have found that by an early an
nouncement of their candidacy they
are not at all liable to have any com
petition from men Of higher name or
the primary ballot for tho Office
sought. So the play for Tom. Dick
and Harry to make ia TO get in the
running eariy-seven as early Us six
months before the primary-and so
secure scif-nomination. Under the
convention method Tom, Dick and
Harry would not have one chance in
one hundred of securing n nomina-
ton; SO. I say. tho present primary
method Sas resulted, in n majority of
cases, in se'f-nominatfon. and there
Try, too often for the good Of the state
and counties. too many Toms. Dicks
and Harr.es have boon nominated.
''The primary method is n waste
Of money. Ny recollection is that in
Fremont county the cost of holding
primaries is about So per vote. If
two or more candidates for the same
office como out for n nomination IL
means the expense OF two campaigns
for the successful one-a campaign
for nomination and a campaign for
election.
"Our form of government n~ecessi-
tates political parties, but under the
direct primary method-in reality
largely seif-nominated-a party name
means little more than the dessGna-
ton OF a ticket; the candidate. 81
ciaily when self-nominated owes no
allegiance to any party organization
and so. too often. party principles.
party aims for good government are
not carried out, are lost sight of in
the selfish desires OF the individual
elected; that seems to have been tho
rule and consequent result. as ia well
evidenced by the Legislative record for
wasteful extravaganza. and numerous
iri-advised statutory enactments as in
Witnessed by moro than two hundred
amendments n repeats nv the last
legislature Immediately following a
new compilation of the statutes. the
prior legislature OF 1913 having
amended s70 statutes. These 40
amendments are a SID comment upon
legislative ability derived through
differentiation.
Nominations by conventions are
mad by tho authorized representa-
tives of tho people. the great ma
jority of UGH representatives are of
the highest standing. they desire and
will choose the best timber for the
respective offices to BIO filled, they
have time TO consider, they know the
records and ability Of tho candidate
and being responsible to the people
for the ohoioe are careful to endeavor
not to make mistakes. If nvowed
candidates r not up to h mark.
the convention can. through patriotic
action and argument. draft into sefv-
Ice a capable man for the nominee.
And when nominated and elected the
new officer owes allegiance to the
partly a government to be success
full for the people must be operated
by n party compoasd of faithful men
of ability who W. and render allie
glance to the party principles and
aims as set out to the people in plat
form announcements. There is no
party organization and there are no
party principles. OF aimH, u