Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-10-22
NO PLACE FOR DEMOCRATS.

In a communication to the Fargo,
Forum, Attorney E. H. Wright pre-
sents a view of the respective duties
of Republicans and Democrats in the
matter Of the, selection of a. Repub-.
lican candidate for the United States
senatorial choice by the legislature
which is unexceptional. Mr.. Wright
holds that Democrats have no moral
or legal right to participate in the
choice of III "a Republican candidate,
and he thinks that IN common hon
estys Democrats shou ID refrain from
voting or seeking to vote for either
of the senatorial candidates at the
fall election. This IS true, and is
the position the Tribune has taken.
The working of the primary law must
be such that the integrity of parties
shall be maintained, otherwise we
shall have a bad condition of affairs.
In states where there is a senatorial
choice to be made at the same time
as the general election, we shall have
temptation held out to the major
itty to trade votes with one of the
candidates Of the majority, and while,
morally the minority has no right to
participate in party matter affect
ing the majority, moral considera-
lions do not always prevent the con-
summation of such political exchang.
es OF. votes. w.. g.. Z
This being the case, there must be
a, legal as we'll as moral means to
prevent Democrats from voting for
Republican. candidates., and visa
versa. In this state, the Democrats
have, by. the apparent interest of
some OF their own leaders and speak.
ers, given color to the report hat
there was a concerted scheme on the
part of the Democrats to- exchange
votes for one of the senatorial cam
didates In return for Republican
Eyotes to be cast for thea Democratic
Ecandidate for governor. r No Repub-
lican holding his party allegiance as
worth anything and having any pride
in his party organization would lend
his action to; such a plan, and no pri-
mary choice made under and by vir.
tue of such an agreement should have
anyssweight with a member OF the
legislature who has pride in his own
party. , 80. 'rZr - s= i =, - =. :s"a'
It may be that it was this rumor-
ed plan to exchange votes that has
precipitated the bringing of the case
| to test the whole, Validity of the
senatorial feature Of the primary law.
While Republicans through the state.
| are willing generally that the people
shall express themselves on the sub
jects Of the senatorsn,p as a distinct
party matter, they have an entire
right to object to a proposed sacri-
flee of the party organization and
part of the ticket, through plan
| to further the interest of any candi-
date by a political trade. ,
If@the primary choice of a Repub-
lican candidate for the senate goes
to the people, by virtue Of the decis-
| ion of the supreme court there should
be means of preventing Democrats
from participating. II the law af-
fords no such means, then such
1 means should be provided, by an
amendment Of the present law. And
at the coming election, steps should
be taken to preserve the evidence OF
whether the Democrats do partitci-
pate as the result of concerted plan
for submission to the legislature
Evidence that any candidate for the
| senate was party to such an arrange
! ,ment should not help him with his
Town party organization. e.