Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1905-02-12
GENTLEMAN FROM STARK TALKS
Calls Further Attention To the Glaring Beauties
Of Senate Bill No. IS
Such Primary Law Hath No Charms For One Who Loves
" Plain Methods Of Exercising the Franchise
To the Editor;

IL CAC Iu1COI .P.sS .gt- ~ = 81
e.. Taking up the primary election fias-
co as embodied in Senate Bill No. SO,
at section it comes down TO giving
the people a chance to have choice by
stickers or writing the name of a "a
vorite candidate. This would seem
to be an opportunity as now provided
in the Australian ballot system, of
q catching on, regardless of fees and the
regular routine prescribed in other
sections The chances for success by
stickers and the individuals written
choice, however, would be as remote
as under the present system. -. =
Section provides for discriminate
ing in favor of the Office seeker as
against the Office holder, the democrat
as against the republican, the minori-
ty as against the majority, that is only
half fee is required from all save the
candidate of the dominant party. AS
said before, this was conceded by the
minority republicans to the democrats
of the senate to insure their support, a
trade, made, no doubt, to illustrate the
Improvement in methods for giving
the people a square deal, that we may
expect from the manipulation of the
ideal gentlemen, who urge and expect
to profit by the success Of this meas
ure. s=1 10y -.
i It seems strange to me that with
our house of representatives made up
Of 80 per cent republicans and one per
cent democrat, making a body seldom
equalled and never excelled in the his
tory of our state, that any one or any
considerable number of members
should so far forget the practical side
of the situation as to believe that their
election was secured by fraud or ques-
tioable practices, or that the passage
of bill like SO should revolutionize
the sentiment Of the people to the ex-
tent of giving the state better state
officers, or a more representative body
Of men than now comprise the assem-
bly,. ..,. IL.
1t is often doubtful that under this
measure we could escape having the
class of minority republicans in the
senate trading with free trade demo-
Gratis, or escape the danger of having
this class Of genteel idealists multi
piled to the confusion and discontinue
of the people.
Section 10 provides for grouping
names Of the various candidates
branded under the title Of the office
aspired to. Anyone who has voted the
Australian ballot as now used in gem
eral elections can imagine the confu-
sion of the average voter when pre-
scented with an extra large ballot with
unlimited number of names for each
Office and required to select only one
name from each group. Add to this
the confusion of having both or all
political candidates on one ballot and
the confusion is worse confounded,
and the number Of defective ballots
resulting and subject to the judgment
Of the Judges Of election presents a
problem worthy OF consideration, espe-
cially as 1t is not assumed or Is it con-
ceivable to a practical mind, that any
better or more active set or class Of
men will assume charge OF election
machinery than those who now assume
SUCH duties. III
Furthermore, In this conglomeration
Of 9 ballot 1t ia stipulated that the
voter shall confine his choice to the
names in the party column OF head,
that he starts Ia to vote for at the top;
the language being as follows: ssThe
judges and inspectors Of election when
handing q ballot to 4 voter shall In
form HIM that he must vote for candi.
dates Of one political party and In one
column only
Section A simply provides for party
designation and procedure about as
now practiced; party to gain place
on the primary ballot must have cast
~ least 5 per cent OF the votes for gov
ernor at previous general election.
Section u provides for nlling va
cancies on the ticket ~ ths regularly