The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1906-11-23
OFFICIAL PAPER OF CITY
AND COUNTY.
=1aes. sz.oo FER AaEHva1
F. A. Wardwen. G. G. Thompson.
wARDwEI.L = THoa6PsoN.
THE PRIMARY ELECTION.
Minnesotsns Dissatisfied With the
Law in That Stste-Prefer
OId-Fashoned Conventions

M1uAcdpOuS OOuTHdA. MluncSOGd .
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 gained from in
terviews printed in the journal to-day
giving the views of a number of our
public men. Without exception they
pronounce the law failure as it stands
and many favor its unconditional re-
Zeal. The majority, no doubt, would
prefer to see the principle retained, but
with amendments to the law that will
wipe out its most glaring 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, cut 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,
andit 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 politicts are beginning to
think that this piece of grim humor.
The power is certainly there, but there
are SO many ways to fool the people and
make them think they want something
that, aexpression of sentiment is seldom
secured. The victory is to often to the
longest purse. In a large constituency
where the candidate is known personally
to small per cent of the people the
biggest advertiser and the man who
hires the most workers has all the
advantages. A man of small means is
practically prohibited from running.
The primary becomes sort of free-for-
all election in which money is spent
like water. Instead of corrupting
delegates the man with the barrel
reaches out farther to corrupt the whole
polite. As a means towards the end of
pure politicts, the primary cannot be
termed shining success.
Another unpleasant result from the
primary in the way it lines up the voters
within party on opposite sides, an
alignment which is likely to persist in
the general election. Uuder the con-
vention system voters did not express
themselves individually as to a choice,
and were therefor uncommitted and
ready to accept the nominee with free
mind. Under the primary. the voter
takes stand for one man and against
another, or for or against principle,
plus a candidate, as in our recent city
contest. II his man does not win, he is
i'll 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 can
didate at the polls is to involve him in q
ahot primary election contest.
1 The primary law has been tried in
Minneapolis four times, and in the state
at large three times. In the present
form il has given less satisfaction az
each trial. It may survive another
session Of the legislature without serious
change ps the result Of a dead dlock, but
a.duty is certainly presented to our law
makers BY popular opinion. y Let them
either amendA the law along some ration
a plan to cure its most fragrant evils,
and give i another trial, 81 abolish II
and goIback to the convention system
with d direct vote ior daleg ten
The Democls 81 sesu psrf xilling
let ~ insn1 snt q i
Sent & of NV it [ y 9 unslst tlie nslvI