, 1926-08-25
THE PRIMARY LAW

LIE RINI1AR n
Now that the primary election is over, it seems an OPP
perfume time to express ourselves regarding same. The primary
has been a subject for much debate during the past few
months. T he Republicans condemn it, the Democrats uphold it.
The Republicans have tried over a period of years to apply it,
the primary last week, in many voting precincts, not a Demo-
ratio vote was cast, and in the majority of the precincts,
but a very small majority of the Democrats voted.
The primary law, designed to break up what was called
machine bossed politics" probably accomplished its mission,
but 1t has brought about a situation, hw1ch IN our OPINION,
is much worse. 1t has brought about a situation, if strictly adj
hered to, whereby a political party has no organization to
bring out the best material for state office. 1t has developed a
condition, whereby the man who is best able to campaign over
the state, financially able to use the most newspaper space, and
is the best taker, can nominate himself for almost any office
the state has to offer. He does not need to be a business man,
he does not need to be popular in his home community, to
have the respect of his neighbors and business associates, all
he has to do is to have the inclination and finances to put
across a good campaign.
If his name starts with a letter well forward in the
alphabet, he has all the advantage over his adversary whose
name may commence with one of the letters far down in the
alphabet. This was never more clearly demonstrated than at
the primary last week. Three candidates were asking for the
Republican nomination to secretary of state. One of the candi-
dates name started with "c", another "' and the third "s".
The last named candidate had the endorsement of the organic
ed party, he was a ma selected by a convention of two
hundred delegates from every county in the state. He was
a popular man and made a tour of the state with Frank C.
Emerson, who was nominated by a big majority as governor
Yet this man, John Stansbury's name appeared third on the
primary ballot. The voter was unacquainted with him. They
looked the list over, and a majority marked a cross after
the first name. The MAJ nominated was a good selection,
is well qualified for the office, and if elected will fill the
position of secretaryof-state with credit to himself and honor
U n party, yet II Is 1OOnSh &c presume that this man was
chosen because of any outstanding qualities which he has
over the man Stansbury. His nomination was the result of
the primary, and the man who had the endorsement of leading
Republicans of the state went down to defeat because the
voter is not sufficiently, acquainted with the many candi-
dates for state office to make an intelligent selection under the
primary system.
In county politics this situation does not prevail In these
small districts of the state the men usually enjoy a personal
acquaintance with most of the voters, and if not, they make it
a point to get about prior to election day. In the county, the
primary law, although rather expensive to the state, and work
ing an additional hardship upon the office seeker, seems to
function very satisfactorily, and gives to every voter and citizen
the opportunity to seek political preferment if he pleases.
Probably the most disastrous angle of the primary law, is,
that due to the lack of contests in the Democratic primary,
many Democrats are registered in the primary as Republicans,
and can register their votes to those who may prove to be
the weakest candidates at the general election. This is mani
only, as their reason for voting in the Republican primary, that
desire to assist this friend or that who is active in the other
party.
1t is very unlikely that the primary law will be repealed,
but there is little doubt but that it will be amended to permit
the selection of state tickets by the major parties. AT the
present time there is little difference in the methods used by
the major political parties. The Republicans met in Casper
last spring, and in open meeting, voted by counties and nomin-
ated a ticket which received the whole-hearted endorsement of
the convention. A week later the Democrats met in Thermop-
oils and held a love feast. There were no open sessions of
business meetings such as held by the Republicans, but after
two or three days making medicine" the Democratic ticket
was born. On the Republican ticket there were two offices