The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1906-06-29
THE PRIMARY ELECTION LAW.

i Neche ChrOnotype.
The election of last Tuesday conclusl-
vely demonstrated there is much wisdom
in the provisions of the new primary
election law. The will of all people is
made manifest in a cleares and more d.
rect manner than was ever possible un-
der the old convention system:
Over half OF the total Republican vote
OF Pembina county was registered at the
polls on Tuesday, and under the old
system not near that percentage attend
ed the caucus to select delegates to the
county conventions. At the conventions
there was liable to be trading of votes
such as would leave the man who had
been the popular choice before the con-
ventions ''out in the cold."
The primary election law brings out
the direct will of the people in the mat
ter of who shall be the candidates of the
several parties. While as yet the law
has its imperfections, these will be re-
moved in time and improvements made
in it which will make it the ideal method
OF nominating party candidates.
The new primary election law is a
great incentive to political fickleness-
~
dao many men who have been known
as lifelong Democrats forsook, for the
nonce, the teloved principles OF Jeffer-
son and Jackson, and boldly proclaimed
themselves as Republicans by calling for
the ballots Of that party. 2
\ \ "Good old line Democrats
have been decidedly scarce since the battle
of the ballots of last Tuesday, at which
time SO many good old line Democrats"
forsook the political faith that has been
as bright light to them for 10 these
many years.
The election on Tuesday, which mark
ed the trial of North Dakota's new prim-
ary law, did not create any noticeable ex.
citement in Neche. The voters in the
village turned out we'll, polled eighty
four votes, all but one calling for Re-
publican ballots. Forty votes were poll
ed in the township. of which four were
cast on Democratic ballots.
The above extracts from the Chrono-
type are self-contradictory as to the
efficiency Of the primary law. Two facts
are apparnt, one that the Democrats did
not vote except in very small numbers
for their own ticket, and that many
Democrats did vote with the Republican
ballot The same facts are true all over
the county as well as at Neche.
As a method of expression by the
people, under the same conditions and
issues, and lack OF issues, practically the
same results would have occurred under
the old caucus system. There would
have still been large Republican vote
IN the primaries and q small vote by the
Democrats, except that probably the
Republican vote would have been small
ct and the Democratic vote larger.
The Republican vote would have been
smaller. because in Neche for instance
the interest ID Mr. Roadhouse,s candi-
dacy could have been served as well BY
electing delegates to a county couven-
ton favorable Is him, while the Demo-
Gratis would hive had to muster at
least I half dozen il order 10 hold q
cancus 90 III. ss 5.s
The fact however that utd der the prim-
||slify lf syisste en- = vote ins sNeche counteracted|
|asyots ia Cavalier. mad a IL neces-|
s.srY t out 81 the
votes ~ sible tfr IL homo canIdi.A
|dais III tss liS iesult thet ! pe;sInrocratic|
y1telll III, ts,i u md rllin to
Ill y % s Si ts,rsi iess MI a,,dl