Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1905-07-10
FINDS FAVOR IN OTHER STATES.


seems to be regarded as sane effort
to do away with some of the political
evils of the old system of party
nominations. In recent article the
Minneapolis Tribune says:
The North Dakota primary law is an
interesting experiment.. 1t has been
too much overlooked in discussion OF
the subject. The law was passed by
the last legislature and will be tried
first in the election of next year.
Month Dakota always has had the
caucus and the convention. 1t has
been pretty considerably boss-ridden.
Nevertheless the state is too wise to
rush to the other extreme of trying to
destroy all party organization. 1t
does not abandon the principal of
representative government. 1t has
made sane and we hope a successful
attempt to reform the party organiza-
lions by making them truly repre-
sentative. In doing this it has worked
has favored for Minnesota. 1t is
simpler application of the principle of
the New Jersey law, far better adapted
to conditions in North Dakota, we
think. than the New Jersey law itself
would be.
There is to be one primary election
Tor all state and countp purposes on
the third Monday in June. What be-
comes of the contention of our Mime
sofa farmer friends that the country
cannot get along with June primaries?
There are far more farmers in proper
ton in North Dakota and they make
no difficulty about it. Then cities of
more than 5000 people hold primary
elections for nomination of all munich
pal officers on the first Tuesday of
March. This applies only to two, or
at most, to three cities.
At the state primaries in June the
people vote direct for candidates for
all county Offices and for delegates to
vention dominates candidates for state
Offices and members of congress, who
are elected at large in North Dakota.
The convention of each party appoints
state committee. The delegates for
each county meet at the county seats
in August after the primary to elect
" h1 loI
gates for each judicial district meet
in May at time and place fixed by
the state committee in the districts
to nominate candidates for judge
Candidates for legislature are nomi-
mated in the primaries with special
provision for canvassing votes in dis
tricts containing more than one
county.
1t looks complicated, stated in
bald way, but it is really very simple
The plan combines the safeguards of
the primary law, representative party
organization and all necessary conven-
tons chosen at single primary cleo
well in a state having more comph-
Gated system of elections. Even in
North Dakota it may lead to some
trading between congressman and
state officers and perhaps in judges
also, in spite of the separate conven-
tons.
For the rest, the law is like other
primary laws except for some changes
suggested by experience. Candidates
get on the ballot by petition and pay
fee heavy enough to prevent running
for the fun of the thing. The law
abandons the futile attempt to prevent
candidates from voting out of their
party, giving every applicant at the
primaries the ticket he asks for. We
are inclined to think that practical
test of this law will be awaited with
considerable interest.