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

thOro TRIAL. Nothing mas inter
/ vened since that time to warrant
: anyone in thinking that another
, statewide primary law would be fret
from the pernicious effects which
, followed the operation of tho ONT
which was repealed.
l do not believe the thoughtful
taxpaying portion of our people de-
, sire this class of legislation. The
. political party to which l am proud
to belong spoke overwhelmingly IN
!: its convention and in the election
against q statewide primary Prom.
ises made by political parties are
solemn pledges which should be held
sacred. A majority Of the members
of the legislature representing my
party, with an honest and sincere
desire to keep faith with the peo-
pie, voted against this bill, and am
of the opfnion-in fact, 1t is a mat
ter of common knowledge-that q
considerable number of those who
voted for 1t did so in spite of their
own personal convictions and against
their better judgment.
My chief objection, however, goes
| to the principle which underlies all
bills of this class. l am convinced
that the inevitable effect of direct
| primary laws undermines our repre-
sentative form of government, and
that most of the unrest and insta-
bility which has arisen in the past
decade has been due to the increas-
| ing number of laws of this character
which have been in operation. Our
country has become the greatest in
| the world because we have had a
| representative form of government.
In the past generations the represent
tative system OF nominating candi-
dates has produced great leaders and
great statesmen. The primary exalts
the demagogue. The representative
system has produced leaders. The
primary system produces followers.
The representative system has per-
mitted the sober second thought of
the people to prevail. The primary
fans to a flame the passion and the
prejudice of the moment. The repre-
sentative system is one in which
principles hold the stage. The pri-
mary but promotes the ambition of
the individual, and it is in this soil
the demagogue best fiOurishes. The
great menace to the security of our
liberty and the efficiency of our gov
eminent is the man who would seek |
to capitalize each fieeting prejudice
for his own advancement. Alexander
Hamilton once said: !
"A dangerous ambition more often ,
turks behind the specious mask of |
zeal for the rights of the people than
under the forbidding appearance of
zeal for the firmness and efficiency
of government. History will teach
us that the former has been found a
much more certain road to the intro
duction of despotism than the latter,
and that of those men who have over
turned the liberties of repu blics, the
career by paying an Obsequious court
to the people; commencing dema-
gOgues and ending tyrants.''
1t is this class which is developed
by the direct primary system. The
immediate, but l am convinced it is
very real.
The history of the world has DEM
onstrated that organized effort Is
essential to success. The combined
efforts of individuals agreeing upon
a policy or plan is necessary be-
fore such policy or plan can be sue
cessfully applied. We organize in
our religion and our charities. We
organize in our business. We organ
Ize in our recreations. Our chambers
Of commerce, our business clubs, our !!
lodges, the very primary league
which the instigators of this bill
found it necessary to promote to j.
further their purposes, all testify l
% the necessity and power of
United effort. What is true of our
activities is no less true of /
lffairs of state. Political parties are S
)ut associations formed by citizens S
holding similar ideas as to principles r
If government. Such associations
insure order in the administration of '
,ur political affairs-without them
here would be chaos t
A few days ago we celebrated the a
anniversary Of the birth of the great
st statesman the world has ever o
1nown. No man was more beloved.
70 mans judgment and actions have
lad a greater part in guiding the r
lestinies of this nation. He was a II
Irm believer in political parties, and
le as firmly believed in the necessity II
4 organized and unified effort In the
OF political principles
nto governmental acts. He openly II
md enthusiastically advocated the Il
invention system of nominating II
and. to drive home his
rgument for the necessity OF such II
enventions, he used this language:
THAT union is strength is a
ruth that has been known, IL
ustrated, and declared in various
rays and forms in all ages of the
7orld. That great fabulist and
Philosopher. Aesop, illustrated it by |
is fable of the bundle of sticks; and
lie whose wisdom surpasses that of =
IL philosophers has declared that
! house divided against itself cannot
and 1t is to induce our friends to
ct upon this important and univer-
ally acknowledged truth that we
rye the adoption Of the convention
7stem."
So spoke Abraham Lincoln. Prin-
pies do not change, and 1 am con-
mt to stand with him..