Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-11-15
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PRIMARY ELECTION.

The forthcoming legislature in
North Dakota is pledged by the re-
publican platform to extend the
primary election law of this state. In
this connection it is interesting, and
ought to be instructive, to watch the
sentiment in relation to the law, or
rather the primary system, in other
states. Recently the Minneapolis
Journal interviewed number of lead
Ing citizens, men in whom the people
these interviews moves the Journal
to say editorially:
Minnesota's primary election law is
fast growing in disfavor Its enemies
have grown in number every year
since the law was passed in 1899, and
they are now legion. So much may be
easily cleaned from interviews printed
in The Journal today, giving the
views of number of our public men.
Without exception they pronounce the
law failure as it stands, and many
favor it's unconditional repeal. The
majority, no doubt, would prefer to
see the principle retained, but with
amendments to the law that will wipe
out it's most glazing evils.
The feature most complained of is
the participation of democrats in re-
publican primaries, and vice versa
There are various schemes proposed to
stop this, out of which it is likely
that something can be evolved that
is worth trial.
The other faults in the system, how
ever, are inherited in direct primary,
and 1t is hard to see how they can be
avoided. The theory of the law, the
rosy theory whose praises have been
sounded far and wide, is that it places
the power in the hands of the people
themselves.
Observers of politics are beginning
to think that this a piece of grim
humor. The power is certainly there,
but there are 50 many ways to fool the
people and make them think they
want something that a genuine ex-
preston of sentiment is seldom Sc
cured. The victory is too often to the
longest purse. In large constituency
where the candidate is known person
ally to a small per cent of the people,
the biggest advertiser and the man
hiroc tho al
the advantage. A man of small
means is practically prohibited from
running. The primary becomes a sort
of free-for-all election in which money
is spent like water Instead of cor
rupting delegates the man with the
barrel reaches out farther to corrupt
the whole body polite. AS a means
toward the end of pure politics, the
primary cannot be termed a shining
success.
Another unpleasant result from the
primary Is the way it lines up the
voters within a party on opposite
sides, an alignment which is likely to
persist in the general election. Under
the convention system voters did not
express themselves individually as to
a choice, and were therefore uncom.
mitted and ready to accept the nomi
nee with a free mind. Under the
primary the voter takes stand for
one man and against another, or for
or against principle, plus candi
date, as in our recent city contest
If his man does not win, he Is il
pleased. Having voted against the
nominee plus the issue, once, it comes
natural to do it again at the polls
All that seems necessary to defeat {
candidate at the polls is to involve
him in hot primary election contest
The primary law has been tried il
Minneapolis four times, and in tn
state at large three times. In tn
present form it has been well tested
and it has given less satisfaction a
each trial. It may survive anothe
session OF the legislature withou
i serious change as the result Of dead
lock, but a duty is certainly presente'
to our lawmakers by popular opinion
Let them either amend the law alonl
5s some rational plan to cure It's mos
fagrant evils, and give it another trial
or abolish 1t and go back to the con
Fention system with a direct vote TO
h delegates. ID 5s.
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The brevaty of the delinquent ia,