Bismarck daily tribune., 1908-12-20

dates for any but local Office robs the
boasted schoice by the people at
the primary Of any substantial mer-5
its.
8. The maintenance OF party org
anizations is a necessary If the dem-
ocratic idea Of government by the
majority is to be preserved. The
primary destroys party organiza-
tions..
There is undoubted truth in all of
these objections that have been urg-
ed in this state, as well as in other
states where state wide primary
law is in operation, but how they
are to be overcome and the direct
primary law maintained Is not just
clear. There is no law by which cam
didates can be either required to run
or be prevented from running from
of1ice There is no means by which
the nomination Of the better of two
candidates can be assured. There is
no way that serious internal quarrels
and struggles within the party can
be prevented, and the results OF these
quarrels are certain to be felt at
the election, where there are close
contests.
The primary law is in favor with
the masses Of the people because they
have been made to feel that it Is
their law, designed to protect them
from the Vaccinations OF politicians,
giving them the choice of their own
nominees. and insuring better public
servants and better public service.
So long as public sentiment is of this
character, there will be no success
full move to repeal the state wide
primary. It will continue in effect.
but it is possible that some amend
ments are possible that will reduce
its Objectionable features to the mimi
mum, or change the form of the pres
|ent system. When the people them
selves become satisfied that the work
ings Of the direct primary are not de-
signed to bring about the best results
they will either repeal it or SO amend
it that the evils possible under it will
be minimized, and in that case new
and unforeseen difficulties may arise
under new law. sss
1t is possible that the White bill,
providing for primary election of del
egates and nominations by con-
vention, with the possibility Of an APP
peal to the people for the ratifica-
ton of the nominations either Of the
majority or the minority, will be
|reintroduced in the legislature next
winter. 1t is argued in behalf of
this measure that it would insure
party organization, the noE,tnation
Of candidates by representative
body Of party delegates and that the
majority OF the convention would be
apt to remember at all times that
the nominations might go to the peo-
pie for ratification. This, it is claim
ed, would bring about the choice oi
acceptable candidates, and insure a
greater care in selection. Some oi
the ultra-radica1 advocates OF the di-
rect primary object to any system
which contains convention or any.
thing resembling one, and yet the
representative convention, for any
purpose, is the foundation of oul
i theory of government. 1t may be
land is entirely possible, that com.
bination Of the direct primary and
the convention, is the best system fol
the nomination OF candidates. Ar
|objection which has been urged to i;
is that such law as the White bill
would provide nomination machin.
ery entirely too cumbersome. But
Ieven the present primary law is cum.
bersome, and exhausting. THE can,
Ididates who have had experience witt
it either successfully or unsuccessful
| ly, will admit that fact without hest
4 tation
Il One thing is certain, however, and
4 that is that the experience Of ths
state with the direct primary law vii
Ienable the legislators more intelli
4 gently to consider the whole mattel
4 of direct and indirect nominations
i No Republican should be held untru.
i to the spirit of the times IL he be
| lieyes a better system than the pres
i ent can be devised. Nor should Re
publicans be hasty to declare the di
u rect system unsatisfac ctory becals,
some of the objections enumerate,
above have been urged against il
What the state wants is the best pos
I sible system of nominations and Wha