The Devils Lake world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1911-1911, 1911-01-27
sen. CASHEL HAS
ELECTION REFORM BILL
WANTS TO MAKE NOMINATIONS
OF JUDICIAL AND SCHOOL
OFFICERS NoN-PART1sAN.

Bismarck, N. D., Jan. 2l,-Party
conventions for the purpose of nominal
school offices, county, district and
state, to participate in non-partisan
election, are proposed by Senator Cash
el OF Walsh county in a DILL introduced
in the upper house of the state legisla-
tive assembly. The bill that he has
presented on the subject provides that
the judges and school superintendent
should he elected at the primary cleo
ton in June but in view of the fact
that Mr.. Cashel has since learned that
such officials must be named at the gen
cral elction in November, he will very
likely withdraw that bill and substi-
tute another making the change of
rates.
The idea proposed by Mr.. Cashel is
unique. For some time legislative
committee of the State Bar association
has been engaged in an effort to hit
upon a plan of conducting a non-parti-
san election of the judges that would
work out satisfactorily and the men,
bers of this committee have recently
considered the Cashel bill.
Senator Cashel IS plan would make the
plan of nominating quite plain, return
ing as it does to the old convention
system. Each party would hold coun-
ty convention at which the candidates
for the Office Of county superinten-
dent would be nominated. District
conventions would be held each four
years to nominate candidates for
judges Of the supreme court, while
state conventions would be held each
two years to nominate candidates for
the Office of state superintendent Of
public instruction and for justices of
the supreme court. If the new supreme
court term law is adopted, one justice
will be elected each two years here
after.
Tim with the party conventions com
pleted would come the non-partisan
choice at the polls. All individual bal
lot would be provided on which would
appear the names of the candidates
nominated in the party conventions.
hut on such ballot no reference what
ever would be made to their party be-
liefs.
Mr. Cashel has also introduced bill
doing away with the square at the head
oi the election ballot by which the en-
tire ticket of party may be voted by
single cross.
Another election bill fathered by
the Walsh county man amends certain
sections Of the primary election law
making it fit in with his bill covering
the non-partisan election of school Of
fcers and judges by eliminating them
from the provisions of the primary law.
The bill also does away with the per
ccntage fee for fling, establishing u,t
form fee of S. for recording petitions
Of candidates for state Office; 50 for
candidates for the state senate; So for
candidates for the house of represen-
| tatives, with fee Of S. for candi
dates for school and district offices ex-
cept in the case of county commission
ers, where fee Of So is provided and
for county constables and justices Of
the peace fee of only 81 is required.
Members Of the assembly from the
counties embracing the Fifth judicial
district are having a difficult time
making a peaceable adjustment Of a
plan Of division. One meeting of the
delegation was held this week at
which the situation was thoroughly dis
cussed but no conclusion was reached.
The difference of opinion as to the plan
of division is quite marked and it is
not believed that any conclusion will
be reached for number of days yet.
| The Tenth district members have not
reached any agreement either but they
expect to get together shortly.
From the northwestern section Of the
state where an effort is being made
to create the eleventh district out Of
Williams, Mountrail and Mckenzie
counties, no little work is being done.
Frank Fisk. looked upon as a probable
judgship candidate in the event the
division is made, has arrived in Bis
marck and is helping the division plan
along.
A telephone bill that may meet witt
no little OPPOSITION was introduced il
the senate by Mr.. Pierce Of Ransom
county. 1t provides for an exchange 0
service betewen all telephone and tele
graph companies operating in the state
end also gives the state railroad com
mission the power Of fixing rates, whic]
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