The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-03-15

~ -4eA-- Sd
Devils Lake Journal: .. q. skula.
son Of Grand Forks who had announc-
ed himself 40 9 candidate for congrest
subject to approval OF the republicans
In the primary election, IL one of those
whom the insurgent eliminating com
mittee, recently In session at Valley
City, attempted to suppress. Now
Skulason did not ask the permission
OF thi5 committee to become q candi-
date and he doesn't propose TO allow
them to suppress his candidacy. He
seems to have a mind OF his own and
10 not afraid to speak it. In recent
interview he expressed himself as fol-
lows:
II refuse to abide by the decision
OF this committee. They never have
had any authority over me or my can
didacy had no voice in their selec-
ton or the meeting at which the ticket
was decided upon. In legal parlance
they never had any Jurisdiction over
my person or the subject matter OF my
candidacy. The object of the primary
law is, as / understand 1t. to let the
people do the eliminating 1t liz SO
easy to get up an elimination COM
n1tttee that each candidate for public
ONCE could have one of his own"
Mr.. Skulason Is right in theory but
wrong In practice. The avowed pur-
pose of the primary law Is to permit
the people to do the eliminating but
what is everybody's business is no.
body's business. Besides the republi-
can machine has a three months
head start" of the people. The pri-
maries will not be held until June and
right now is where the eliminating
committe has a golden opportunity
to get in it's eliminating work. The
people will do the eliminating finally.
but 1t will be done in November in
stead of June.
Bismarck Tribune: The following
letter written to Secretary of state
Blaisdell by Chief Clerk Peter Roth,
shows that the way to the preparation
of the primary ballots is not to be a
path of roses and that there are a
number of questions to be settled be-
fore the matter has been satisfactorily
worked out
March 9, 1910.
Hon. Alfred Blaisdell, secretary of
state, Bismarck, N. d.
Sir: Before preparing the notice to
be mailed by this department to the
various county auditors of this state
In accordance with section 16, chapter
109 laws of 1907 primary Election
Law, respectfully call your attention
to the fact that on account OF the I'M
timely death Of Hon. M. N. johnson,
there are two places to be filled for the
of1ce of United States senator, how
ever, l can find no provision made in
the primary election law for the nom
ination of two United States senators.
nothing being contained in said law
directly providing how a vacancy of
this kind shall be filled. If you are
of the opinion that the people shall
select two candidates pr each party
at the next primary election, in which
case the voters will be instructed to
vote for two candidates instead of one
beg to call your attent on to the fact
that the two candidates OF each party
receiving the highest number of votes
cast at such primary election are the
| respective nominees and will not be
voted on again at the general election
| held In November.
| our supreme COuTI, III the decision
rendered in the case of the state OF
North Dakota ex rel. Purcell VS. An
derson, held that where more than one
office of the same name is to be filled
the 80 per cent requirement does not
apply. This, in my opinion will also
apply to the 40 per cent clause should
the people vote for two candidates
for United States senator
The following is an exact copy Of
| the above mentioned supreme court
decision:
!. Section IL, chapter 100, laws OF
| 1907, 1t being the Primary Election
Law, reads:
"12. Percentage OF Votes Required
for Nomination. II the total vote
cast for any party candidate or can
didates for any Office for which nom
nations are herein provided for shall
equal less than 80 per cent of the
| total number of votes cast for secre-
tary of state of the political party, he
or they represented at the last gener-
al election, no nomination shall be
made in that party for such office, but
IL 80 per cent or more of such vote
is cast and there is more than one
candidate for any such Office, the per-
son receiving the highest number OF
votes shall be declared the nominee OF
such party for such Office; provided
further, that where there is more
than one person to be elected to the
same office the persons to the number
to be elected receiving the highest