The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1923-03-29
VETO OF DIRECT PRIMARY

The three direct primary bills that
have been presented to the present
legislature have been killed, the last
one being vetoed by Governor Moore.
who gave the following reasons for
his action:
House of Representatives, Idaho
State Legislature, Seventeenth Ses-
sion, Building.
| Gentlemen: l return herewith,
without my approval, house bill No.
40, providing for holding statewide
primary elections.
1 have many reasons for withhold
| ing my approval of this bill. My
principal and most vital objection is
that it is based upon an unsound
theory, and tends to destroy our rep
resentative form of government
Primary elections are largely deter
mined by the personality of the
candidate rather than the things for
! which he stands, and we must not
forget that this government waxed
great because it has been a govern
ment of law and not of men, Of prin-
cipals and not of individuals. l also
object to this bill on account of it's
form, on account of the great ex-
pense of it's operation, because it
centers power and patronage in pop
ulous centers, because it permits
manipulation by multiplying candi-
dates to defeat the real desires of the
voters, and in practice limits the
people to choice of officials from
among men of wealth or wide repu-
tation.
Even if it be assumed that any
primary election law would be work
able, this bill contains many errors
and COMMISSIONS which make me
question it's successful operation, and |
there are some features of the bill |
which are particularly Objectionable, !
such as the attempt to combine party |
control with official power by per-
uniting only successful candidates
and campaign managers to dictate
the policy, and exercise the control
of political parties.
The practical operation of this bill
would lay a heavy expense on the
people of the state. The dominant
note of the campaign was the neces-
sity for economy. In my messages to
the legislature, and in my contact
with its committees and individual
/ have repeatedly urged
that no legislation be enacted which
would lay new burdens on the tax
payers. This bill would increase the
cost of elections over 100000 to the
taxpayers and an equal amount to
the candidates for office. Neither as
taxpayers nor as citizens can we at
ford to assume this new expense.
Again, this law would apply most
in Idaho. We had a pri-
mary lay in this state for a number
Of years which was the same as this
bill in principle. The peculiar geo.
graphic divisions Of the state, with
but few centers Of population, re-
suited In gerat majority Of the Of
fice holders during that period be-
ing nominated and elected from the
neighborhood of the larg-
est city in our state where the larg-
ast vote is cast. Remote districts ]
ind the less populous counties were
1ot proportionately nor adequately
represented in our state govern s
nent. The man from the farm, from 6
he village, or the county with but {
ew votes, started out in his cam
'aign for nomination with the almost s
handicap of the
al SCI SOtO VI lilo Cillcb, WulCu US {
tally was cast for the city man. The {
'oor man, for all practical purposes,
vas excluded from aspiring to pub
Ic office. The expense of two cam
'aigns confined Office seeking almost
ntirely to two classes Of citizens, the
7ell-to-do and the well-known. Can
idates and their friends, possessed
+ means and influence, induced Y
jimmy candidates to enter the pri- Y
1aries, thus dividing the votes and =
Cheating the real wishes of the
eople. These inequalities OF oppor- 3
unity, Of distribution of office and
of candidates., should >
OF be fostered nor permitted. The B
ian Of ability from country districts u
hould have equal opportunity with
he man Of ability from the town, r.
nd the potential statesman of little p
leans is entitled to the same chance 81
} rise as his wealthy brother. A 81
sw years ago, under the direct pri- tt
larry law, one of the great political a.
arties Of this state had most bitter a.
Kperience and at the urgent solicita- d