Bismarck daily tribune., 1908-12-20
MEMBER OF ASSOCIATED PRESS
THE STATE WIDE PRIMARY.

H--- SNSSxS<N Y1& -
Il THE STATE WIDE PRIMARY.
The merits and demerits Of the
state wide primary law, as means
of nominating candidates for public
office, are still fertile subjects for
discussion and there is still wide
difference of opinion as to the wis
Z dom of the state wide primary sys-
tenn. The direct primary came into
being as the result OF occasional
abuses of the old convention system
of nominations, whereby combin-
ations of delegates and the apport-
tionment of offices in return for votes
frequently resulted in some nomina-
tions that were not acceptable to the
mass Of the voters. BY the direct
system it was held that the voters
would be enabled to choose their
nominees directly and this would in
sure their acceptability to the par
4 ". lutt lHlS 10 uOI div dyS LIZ SctoS
was evident from the experience with
the law in this state, where the Re-
publicans selected a candidate for
governor at the primaries by a ma
jority so large as to be unquestion-
able and then at the polls enough
OF them forsook their party nominee
-
to elect Democrat.
In the discussion of the question
Of the state wide primary that is
now going on, preparatory to the ac-
tivities Of the several northwestern
legislatures this winter, the st. Paul
\ Pioneer Press summarizes what it
considers to be the objections to the
state wide primary system, as fol-
lows:
n The candidates nominate them
selves, and the idea that they are
picked out by the people proves to be
pure delusion.
2. The contest in the primary de-
velops more personal animosities,
breaks more friendships and leads
3 to more lasting bitterness between
men of the same party than ever
< existed between men of opposing par
ties say Republicans and Democrats
& AS breeder Of family quarrels the
primary takes first place among the
! inventions of demagogy.
8. Democrats vote at Republican
and Republicans at Democratic pri-
maries, in order to foist upon the
i party men who can easily, be defeat
z ed. "a remarkable illustration Of this
is seen in the last primary in Ore
gon, where it has been proven that
enough Democrats voted for weak
Republican candidate to insure his
defeat when set up in opposition to
y Chamberlain, an able Democrat, in
the popular ELECTION for United
States senator.
So many candidates nominate
themselves for various Offices that
minority men, whom a large major
4 ity of the voters would repudiate,
frequently carry off the honors OF
the primary.
S The primary gives the man with
4 the longest purse an advantage over
every competitor. IT reduces the
contest to one Of personal advertis.
ing and money-spending
6. Into such a contest self-respect
ing men those possessing the bes'
qualifications for oficewill not en-
ter. This leaves the field clear fol
self-seekers and incapables. It is in
teresting to observe how many such
b whom an intelligent nominating con
vention would never dream Of nam
ing, have foisted themselves upon tn
people as candidates.
AS applied to the selection g
judges. It encourages every plausibl
attorney to look for the honors OF tn
bench. The bar at large. whicl
before the advent Of the direct pr
mary justly exercised great non
partisan influence in directing tn
choice Of able, scholarly jusists, is b
ths primary robbed Of that influence
and judicial candidates are compel
led to wade in the more Of politics
and beg Tor a nomination.
s. The practical impossibility tha
the average voter should have an
personal acquaintance with candi