The Bowbells tribune., 1905-03-03
NEW PRIMARY LAW IN N. D..
Law Just Passed and Signed by th'
Governor Similar in Many Respect'

North Dakota. Then it was laughed
i at as an impractical dream. IWC
| years ago the movement had grown to
such proportions that the state con
yention thought it wise to recognize
it's existence, and formal resolution
favoring primary law, though with
out specifications as TO what sort or
law was favored, was adopted. The
failure of the eighth legislative as
sembly to pass primary law was de-
nounced, and that failure made the
demand for the law stronger. Last
summer the tide was setting strongly
in the direction of primary reform.
and another resolution was adopted.
This time something has come OF it.
The primary law just passed and
signed by the governor is similar In
many of it's features to the Minnesota
law. It provides for the direct nomi-
nation of all candidates up to and in
Guiding those for the legislature. The,
Minnesota plan Of the separate ballot
is retained this being substituted fol
the provision of the original bill for
the printing of the names of all can
didates on one ballot. Congressman
are not affected by the direct vote, as
in this state they are elected at large
and are considered practically part OF
the state ticket.
The North Dakota law goes further
than that Of Minnesota, however, III
cffecting a marked change in the
method of selecting state candidates.
Under the new law the people, in
stead of voting for delegates to coun-
ty conventions who will elect dele
gates 10 the state convention. will vote
directly for delegates to the state
convention, the county convention be-
ing eliminated. The good feature OF
this is that it places the voter in clos
er touch with the state convention.
and makes il possible for the voters.
if they care to take the trouble, to ex-
ercise a greater influence on the work
Of the state convention than has here
tofore been the case
No specific provision has been
made for the selection Of delegates 10
national conventions. and this matter
remains for the time being in the
hands Of the state committees OF the
various parties. AS another legisla-
two session will be held before there
is any opportunity TO take part in a
n,lional campaign. there will be i,len-
t. OF time to take care OF this, to-
ge,l!cr with other changes which may
be needed in the law.
The greatest defect in the law seems
to be the provision for elccting dele
gates to the state convention by coun-
tics at large. AS in the average con-
ventiOn several Of the larger counties
nave been entitled TO forty to sixty
delegates, and 1t is possible that the
rivalry of local aspiranis for state
office may result in there being two or
more full sets Of candidates for dele
gate positions in the field. the number
Of names on the ballot may be so great
as 10 be appalling.
There is a good deal Of disappoint
nent on the part of the rank and file
thai the more sweeping Sharpe-Davia
bill vas HGt passed. This disappOint-
heni is due in part TO the sincere be-
lief that the measure was m2ritori.
oils one, and in part to the fact that
the "machine" opposed it. and there is
sentiment that anything the ma
chine opposes must be pretty gc"d
thing, and that what the machine"
wants is bad Because the machine"
has fought the FORMER bill, and because
it produced the present one as sub
stitutr, there is a tendency 10 look
upon il with suspicion. II is facl
that the present law will tend to in
ferfcre less with the plans OF the ma
chine" than the other one would have
done. but on the other hand it is
great advance from the conditions
which exist now.
The law recognizes the principle OF
the direct primary and establishes il
as fixture in this state by making il
apply to city, county and legislative
Offices. That advantage once gained
by The people will never be relin-
qnished. The law brings the people
one step nearer to the state ticket.
It's provision for the secret ballot a,
state conventions will make the CO.
crcion of delegates difficult thing.
And the provision making the use oi
the unit rule msdemeanor will have
an exceedingly good moral effect, even
if ii is little difficult to enforce. 1t
is safe TO say that had the primary
election forces brought out this bill
in the first place and passed it in the
face of The opposition of the state ma
chine, it would have been hailed all
over the stateas a wise and beneticent
AS it is. conservatives re-
gard it as substantial victory for the
cause Of good government.
Sisourney. Iowa, Feb. 26.-After be-
ing out twenty-five hours the jury in
the case of Print Cooley, charged
with killing Jan Smith last October,
returned a verdict of guilty. Sen