Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-03-04
PRACTICAL WORKING OF THE
PRIMARY.


The popular primary, which was
supposed to bring Office within the
purview of the poor man, appears to
have fallen short of expectations.
The poular election of senators of
the United States was demanded, on
the ground that nobody but rich men
and probably corrupt ones at that,
stood "a chance before a legislature
In contradiction of that assertion we
have two senators from Minnesota
both poor in this worlds goods, who
got their certificates from legisla-
lures On the other hand. WiscOn.
sin. with direct primary, has one
senator who apparently is the choice
of the people, and another who rep
resents merely the purchasing pow
err of money. His primary campaign
cost him more than 100000. His OPP
ponents followed him in the order of
their spending.
Another failure of the popular pri-
mary is limited at in California
where senator declines to run for
reelection because ne cannot afford
tn $4,000 or $4,000 it would take
properly to cover a state nearly l 900
miles long and hot we'll provided
with railroads. Senator Flint of
California says the popular primary
absolutely bars men who lack either
the time or the money to travel the
state from end to end. and make
business-and an expensive business
of politics-Minneapol Journal.
The practical workings of the state
wide primary law are peculiar, and
with reference to the nomination of
United States senators by popular
vote, there are good many earnest
and honest citizens who doubt the
wisdom of a primary ballot for sen.
ators 1t brings an element of COM
plication into the primary for the
choice of state officers that does not
always work for good and it gives
the minority party in the state too
great chance to participate in the
choice of majority candidates. There
is no question but large number of
democrats participated last year in
the choice of republican candidates
at the June primaries, and possibly
again at the fall election And it
seems likely that good many of the
minority party will participate in the
same choice again this year. The ex-
penses of the state wide primary are
heavy, not only for candidates for the
senate but for candidates for state of.
fees. The legitimate expenses of
candidate for postage. 2or advertising
matter, for travelling about the state
and for proper contr buttons to cam
paign funds aggregate sums that,
considering the rewards in the way
Of salaries, are all out of proportion.
At the same time, there seems to be
plenty of candidates. willing to nay
the price in time and money and
make the race for office. Whether
the character of officials has improv-
ed and will improve under the direct
primary system is an open question.
We should say that the state wide
primary is especially Objectionable as
1t applies to those Offices which
ought to be kept out of the scramble
of politics, notably the judgeships of
the supreme court. A Judge under
the present. system, cannot expect
the dignified Endorsement of a con-
vention and his reelection without
in state wide struggle.
He must go through the primary
and take his chances with
six or ten or a dozen candidates
And while he may be nominated
there is always chance that he may
not get the denomination he has
earned or the nomination he ought
to get
No law should make the nomina-
ton of good men for office difficult
nor should it impose a difficult finan-
clal burden upon an aspiring citizen
who is qualified to hold public Office,
BOUNDLESS Opportunities