The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-03-23

Bismarck Tribuno we think the
feeling that has been created among
the voters Of the state with regard to
the work of committees In connection
with the selection of factional candi-
dates for nomination for Office will
have its effect In the future considera-
ton Of the present primary law, and
1t may lead to a reversion to the con-
vention system for the nomination oil
candidates for state office with some
modification. This year. we have the
selection Of q ticket by the insur-
gents, done through a committee Of
very limited number Of persons. We
have also a democratic committee EN-
powered to go about seeking candi-
dates for nomination on the democratic
ballot. And we presume that the can
didates who may be supported by the
stalwarts will have the approval OF
stalwart leaders, as the insurgent can
didates have the approval of factional
leaders.
The advocates Of the state wide pri-
mary law hardly took into account the
possibility and even probability OF
such combinations among candidates
for Office as have been made this year
The friends of influential candidates
for office get together, select other
candidates for other offices, and enter
into a hard and fast agreement for
mutual support. When a considerable
number of factionalists get together
in this way, it does not shut out other
candidates from being on the ballot
but 1t comes near shutting them out
from any chance for a nomination,
because In the nature of a primary
campaign, the candidate who is aloof
from all factions, cannot expect to
cover the whole state with literature
speakers, and the other elements
that bring him and his candidacy be-
fore the public. He may get local
support, depending as he is or is not
we'll known and popular, but the state
is pretty big proposition for him to
cover in campaigning. The nominees
who have an agreement for offense
and defense, profit by the combination
of interests, localities, contributions
and political labors of the individual
candidates who are In the combination,
and the candidate who is so unfortu-
nate as to be pushed aside by the COM
mittee Is at sea in an open boat so far
az a chance Of nomination is concern
ed.
This tendency to combine for of
Tense and defense is as old as the
political system and certainly as old
as the convention system in politics.
1t was the chief evil in the conven-
ton system, and the one that led to
the repeal of the law and the enact
ment of the primary law. But the
convention was composed Of six or
seven hundred delegates. The com
mittee that selects a factional ticket
is composed of only twenty. The evil,
instead of being minimized, i; made
more offensive And while the law
that permits this condition may be
tolerated for a few years, in the end
there will be enough cases of dissatis-
faction to arouse a sentiment for a
change. 1t may not come in a year
or two years, but it will come as GER
tainly as the field for nominations for
office is limited to the choice of COM
mittees Of one or two factions of g
political party.
The trouble with the primary law
| is the same trouble with any system
that is Theoretically desirable but doe
not take into account the element o
human nature In politics or in an!
other business or engagement. It Il
| just as natural to combine for prof
or success in politics as it Is in bust
ness. The tendency is not confined t,
any party or to any faction Of party
| Legislation does not eliminate it. New
laws may modify the methods but the,
do not remove them. Political leader
and candidates for Office suit thei
methods to the law and the contin
| gencies that arise.
With respect to local and legis1a
tive nominations, we should say tn
workings Of the law are not SO un
satisfactory, because the territory t
be covered is not so great but 1t i
humanity possible to cover 1t, and t
be acquainted or get acquainted wit
the majority of all the voters. Blu
it is not so in the state No candidat
can hope to cover 1t all, to speak. t
even a majority of the voters. or t
reach them with arguments, unless h
takes a full year of time and has un
limited means with which to pa
necessary expenses. So far as Their