Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1904-04-22
MM0NS COUNTY RECORD.
BYD. r. STREETER.
Linton, North DaEot0.

Linton, NOrth DAKOTA.
The Record is entered at tho Linton Post
Office us sccond-class matter.
THERE is an object lesson being
presented for study at this time as to
necessity for dlrect-primary law,
and the drawbacks Of the caucus-a and
convention system can be plainly seen
by any one at all interested. The
fact is that the claims Of the various
aspirants for Office cannot under the
present system be-as they should be
based. on honesty, ability and fitness
for the Office to which the candidate
aspires. 1t is matter Of combina-
tions. A candidate from certain
precinct is backed by the party voters
of his precinct. The same is true Of
other candidates in other precincts.
The candidate knows that, whatever
his fitness may be, he stands no show
of nomination unless he can combine
enough precincts to have a majority
Of the delegates when the convention
me2ts. All sorts Of trading is done,
and the question Of fitness too often
is crowded entirely into the back
ground.
The scramble to make successful
combinations often arrays personal
friends in mutual antagonism, even
if only one of them be u candidate.
For instance: John Doe may be in
one combination and Richard Roe in
another. Tom Smith is their, mutual
friend, and he would like to vote for
both Of them for the nomination.
But can he do SO? Not by any means.
The precinct delegates of Doe, if
elected, will vote against Roe in the
convention, and Roe's men, if they
win, will do the same as against Doe.
Smith cannot, under the caucus-and-
convention system, help both of his
friends. Under the direct primary
the voter couldscast his ballot for the
man he preferred for EACH position ON
the ticket.
In a recent article the Record said
that the present. system is the cause
Of much suspicion and unnecessary
rupture of friendship. If the friend
Of two candidates on opposing cowbi,
nations finally settles bis mind in
favor Of one o them, the other will
generally feel that: the friend has been
disloyal TO < 'tsss
And so it goes. The political pull
ing and hauling begins early in each
election year. The factions in party
must be watchful that their respect.
i've interests with the county central
committee are not lost in the shuttle,
because, with the present custom of
authorizing the committee to pass
on the credentials Of convention dele.
gates, the committee has the power, il
it wishes to use it unfairly or care
lessly, to injure one faction or the othe1
greatly in case contesting delegations
come to the convention from one OF
more precincts. And so the watch
fulness as to the complexion of the
central committee begins before the
snow is off the ground.
II As soon as the caucus-and-co
tion campaign begins everything is ir
stew. Voters who, from social OF
business reasons, do not care abou
wearing their heart upon their sleeve
in the matter Of factional suppor
within their party, are importance
and asked for pledges by both sides
And it is a fact that great many
voters-whether working for wage
or in business for themselves sor
ry to see county campaign approach
ing. They are perfectly willing tt
proclaim their national party prin
ciples from the housetops, but the.
do. not feel that they should be com
PEELED to announce their personal pref
erences to two or more candidate
for each county Office. And so it i
the case that the voter sometime
succeeds in convincing every candidate
for every position on his party ticke
that he is for him and against hi
opponent or opponents.
Then, when the voter goes to til,
precinct caucus, he usually find
that no steps have been taken tt
guarantee him secret vote. In th,
absence of laws prescribing the form
of the ballot, he is apt to find tina
!. one or both sides have prepared ;
ballot easily distinguishable from
the ballot of their opponents, anc
that it is utterly impossible to cast {
vote without having practically every
one present know for, whom it /!
cast. In some INSTANCES both side
| agree to use a ballot that is identica
in shape, size and color. But such
instances are few. There is very
little effort made to preserve the
secrecy Of the caucus ballot.
| Another defect in the present sys
tenn is this: 1t is a. we'll known fact
that caucuses are not generally vel
attended by the voters. Often some
candidate who could not at the elec
tion come anywhere near carving q