The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1943-02-05
FROM EDITORIAL COLUMNS
The Legislature Must Not Fitch Basic
Rights From the People

M0ntanaS OF
make effort repeal emascuate the direct
primary This law enacted by the people in referen
dunn election in 1914 provides that the voters nominate can
didates for all elective public offices in primary elections
Formerly candidates had been chosen at party state and
ty conventions Proponents of the primary law felt that
being representative government IN which all power sup
posed to be vested in the people, would be most fitting that
the people play first hand selecting candidates for
public office rather than to permit handful of party poll
cans candidates and then allow the people choose
from among those designated The primary law is based
the assumption that the people are capable of making
choices of candidates. In the main think has worked
land that where has failed there evidence to
sustain any claim that people failed any worse in their
lecons than hack politicians did and would At rate
the people have nobody but themselves blame they make
an unwise selection. 1t is Democracy working.
The contemporary legislature in this respect differ
ent than those the past in that already two different plans
Of amending the direct primary law have been proposed Sen
aor Toomey apponted not eected of Lewis and Clark
y has introduced bill which would retain the primary but
destroy its value through providing for party conventions at
which party politicians would endorse certain candidates for
office Thus in county contest for sheriff. for example,
of politicians would endorse John Doe for sheriff
in given party primary This would give John Doe
ledge in the the other aprants for the office
Such action tantamount telling the rank and file of the
that primary that they competent
candidate of their choice but that they should follow the dcta
ton of group of party hacks In such big state Mon
tana where opportunities for the voters know individual
ddaes is more difficult than IN individual counties such an
endorsement would spell ruin of the primary system 1t would
return to the convention SYSTEM rejected by the people
at referendum election.
The Toomey himself an interesting example
July primary election Mr. Toomey candidate
for the republican nomination congress- He had the sup
port vested interests conven
he would doubtless have been nominated But the rank
file of Republican voters preferred Howard Hazebaker
easily nominated the party politicians notwith
standing is not of which Of the two
competent Independent which might had
the chance of election 1t of the people
Republican choosing their candidate instead having
upon Two years ago Mr.. Toomey repre-
sentative the legislature endeavored to effect outright
repeal of the primary law and also to amend but both
temp wisely rejected by the legislature
Mr. Toomey patient of the vested interests seeking
to take political from the people, He gives
up rather ironcal that having little confidence in
the voters he should have last July submitted his them
a candidate!
second attempt to destroy the primary law is made
through introduction of bill by Senator Olmstead
Grass county The Olmsead provides for
cosed primary The system is used states That
Montana is known the "open primary" The