The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-12-07
Aaker's Hseeond choiee.v

~ To The Forum From certain omar.
ters there has been considerable criti-
I7cism Of the primary election law. but
l believe, 1t will be acknowledged that
| the law has substantially accomplish
ed what was claimed for it. The past
two elections, though, have made II
clear that it has imperfections that
impair its usefulness. and it ought to
be amended.
AT the June primary there were Eve
republican candidates for governor.
two We're supposed to be staIwarts and
three progressiYes. On account of the
progressives being three and because
they commanded more equal follow
ing, these candidates divided the ma
1ority faction voters and went down
to defeat. As the party candidate
should represent the principles for
which the majority stands, it is obyi-
Gus that Mr.. Johnson's success at the
June primary was due to an inpeFfee-
ton in our primary election law. and
this imperfeetion should be overcome
by an amendment that would cure this
unsatisfactory hardship.
The condition that prevailed al June
primary may prevail at any election
and If ii does not, the minority fac
ton will see to 1t that there nre
enough opposition candidates in the
field to divide the majority faction
thus our only hope lies in securing an
to the primary election
law that will overcome this weakness.
At the annual meeting of the Scan
dinavlan Republican league / advo-
Gated the Second choice vote rs
overcome this defect and request
was made at that time for further
explanation of this method, and 1T Is
In compliance with this request that
this article is written.
Second choice" simply means that
the voter when he puts his cross op-
posite the name of his first choice
u candidates shall also put cross
the name of that candidate
whom he would prefer next of other
if his first choice should
not win.
There is nothing difficult nor COM
olicated about this method OF voting
L would take the voter a little long. /
er time to mark his ballot; but there |
s nothing to confuse.
Under our present system a voter
aas but one choice and if that candi- I
late fails to get sufficient votes to be /
elected, the voters influence Is spent. /
ina his Influence for good il lost.
Under the Second choice" system. al
hough tho voters first choice fails to
ret the nomination, his right to ex-
'ress his second choice enables him
Q exert some influence in securing the
Of q candidate that mea-
urably represents his views.
AZ the voters OF this state had had
he right to express their second choice
i the June primary, G. A. Johnson
you'd not have been nominated. but
. all probability j. a.. buchanan. on
bunting the ballots, Mr. Stimnel
tho received the smallest number az
rst choice votes, would have been
Eliminated and those who voted for
I'm as their first choice would have
cen counted as voting for the eandi-
ate pr candidates who were their
zcond choice. There would probably
ave been no choice still, and SO the
sc0nd lowest candidate would have
cen eliminated ard those voting for
~ candidate or candidates who were
leir second choice and 80 the count
ould have continued until one had a
lajority OF All votes cast. The out /
orne woald have been that j. Al. Blu
aanan, In ali PROBABILITIES, would have
zen nominated by practically d solid
Import OF the progressive voters.
"a by an absolute majority. No mat
r who would have been nominated.
: would have had behind him ma
rity Of the republican voters ana
Guild have correctly represented the