The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1922-05-23
TIME TO CHANGE

joining n growing national movement
for the repeal OF the direc; primar,
method OF choosing candidates fol
public office and a return to the cid
convention system.
Under the convention method @!
selection. there would have been
no such ridiculous Issue injected into
the race for governorship as has
made this state in the last
week the object of astcunded obser-
walton. by political observers from
coast TO coast. -- --
II IL impossible to estimate how
much damage has been done to busi-
ness development in Oregon by the
publicity received In the primary cam.
paign.
When the issue erytsallized news.
papers all over the country carried
headlines 20 this effect; KHAN Can
didates Conceded Strong in ore.
gon."
And the day following election
when the population centers OF the
state piled up a majority for the
ku Klux choice for governor. which
u seemed impossible for olcott to
overcome. newspapers far and near
proclaimed: "Ku Kiux Wins Oregon
covernorship."
Now. Of course. tho same news
nano-s carry the final returns re-
vprssl ~ tho first estimates, bu' a
great deal Of harm has been done.
Even though every reader, who
has been looking toward the west as
'rture home or a good place 20
'-vrst money IN development enter
--'ses. IS convinced that tho first
n-nr's were erroneous and Oregon
e stIli sane. there yet remains the
'-~t that the Ku Elux Khan Is strong
n O-eron and the conclusion will
rcrs'st that this is not a safe place
for investment.
We have too much confidence In
the sound sense OF the people a the
state TO believe that the primary
ballot represents the best judgment
OF the state. II can only be account
ed for as mass hysteria. mob psychol-
ogy. shrewdly manipulated by ambi-
tious politicians to advance their sell
fish interests.
We predict that when the repub-
lican voters find how dangerously
near they have been TO the edge OF a
precIplce cf commercial. Industrial
and political dissolution. they will
recoil In horror and the revulsion OF
sentiment will sclidify the majority
party OF Oregon and bring about a
sweeping republican victory in No
vember.
But We were too close to chaos for
comfort. and II must not be again. In
the absence OF the direct primary II
could never have been. No repre-
sentative group OF party delegates
would have indorsed candidates
capable OF bringing about such,
situation. The needless and vicious
issues that raised themselves at the
last hour. would have been stamped
out at the beginning.
Under the direct primary system
party loyalty and personal qualifica-
tions do not enter into the choice Of
public servants. The only qualifica-
lions a candidate needs is desire !
TO be elected. His reputation Is no.
weighed. nor is he bound by any ac-
tual pledges. The opportunity for
the shrewd and cunning candidate
10 win again the man whose self-re-
spect will not permit him TO stoop
10 unscrupulous and degrading meth
DDS is obvious. -r,
Couple TO the direct primary the
recall. and an almost insurmCunt-
able barrier is raised against good
men entering political contests.
What man OF enough moral cour-
age TO do right under any and all !
and far-sighted vision |
that makes an efficient public SER
want. will sacrifice the ease. OF pr.-
vate life for the more than doubt
full honors OF public service. when he
ran count upon disgruntled minor
lty bounding him TO political death
with the recall on the first occasion
when his best judgment forces him
10 take stand against the popular