The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-07-15
Press Comment

~~S S~A&AAA&&AAS i
Milton Globe: Many who voted for
Buchanan in the primaries are glad
that the Anal outcome is as it is. After
more mature consideration they are be-
ginning to realize that Ham is in
deed the man of the hour-the man who
Will give North Dakota a purely bust
ness administration, always having the
pest interests of the people in mind.
Buchanan undoubtedly means well but
ne lacks the experience and executive
aDlIlty OF Mr.. Hanna. The present NOM
lnee even now is familiar with every
requirement of the states executive Of
nee and knows what lines to follow to
give an economical yet prosperous adj
ministration, without spending half his
should not the g-ubernatoria1 office be
awarded to a man of ability as we'll as
the management of factories, stores,
farms and other private enterprises. lit
takes business management these days
to keep any business to the front-and
this Mr.. Hanna has and will use in the
best interests Of the state.
Edgeley Mail: The people over the
state generally recognize that I. B.
Hanna will give the state a usiness
administration. Now that he is nom
mated there is little doubt Of his cleo
ton.
Pembina Pioneer Express: From the
perusal of many exchanges and from
conversation with voters we are pleas
ed to say that the nomination of L. b.
Hanna, as the republican candidate for
satisfaction. Many of the most prom
inent progressives of the state are
openly supporting Mr.. Hanna, while
even the democrats acknowledge that
E Minnf Ind annnHanf. .F Tf1Io<a 4 nd ~ r.
writing to prominent republicans about
the state to ascertain what chances the
third party movement might have in
the state. The Independent has failed
to hear one solitary republican say he
is in favor Of the third party. There
are evils that should be corrected with
IN the republican party and The Inde-
pendent believes that the progressive
wing OF this party ought to and will
do it in time. The progressiyes did not
make a very good showing at the Chi
that a part of the wisconsin delegation
voted for Root for chairman of the
convention. This had a bad moral eff
feet on the convention as a whole for
without question other p~rogresslves In
order to be with the winning side, fol-
lowed Wisconsin's example.
The republicans of the state Of North
Dakota are not for President Taft.
Neither do man. of them want to de-
sert the republican party by support
ing the democratic nominee for presi-
QenL. woodrow wilson mas q GISdu rec
ord, but as yet remains untried. We
| all thought that Taft was the best
mar in the republican party outside of
Roosevelt until we tried HIM out.
Theodore Roosevelt is today the great
est republican, no matter what his enc
mics may say Of his attitude IN the
Chicago convention. The voters or
this state will no douet have an OPP
portunity of. voting for Roosevelt,
either as the head Of the third party
or as an independent republican.
Pembina Pioneer Express: Again we
would call attention to the failure of
the primary law Will N ~ us tPP fil Tete epSeo' y
The theory of the primary law is that
the individual voter should and desires
to express his opinion as to the candi-
dates of his party and that In the con-
yention system of nomination the voter
has no choice except to vote for the can
didates as there nominated and that
the result of dictation and manipula-
tion by the so-ca1led bosses.
A glance at the returns of the Two
primary elections that have already
been held in this state this year Will
! prove the contrary of both these the
cries of the primary law. The totals
show that but a small part or the Vot-
ers exercised their suffrage rights, ana
of these a large number voted purely
by guess-work.
In the presidential election, while
most of the voters had some POSITIVE
ideas as to the presidential nominees,
and so expressed themselves, yet there
were no candidates for electors or del-
egates for Mr.. Taft, and the voter had
TO have a printed list to know whether
hi was voting for LaFollette delegates
or for Roosevelt delegates.
Further these delegates were select
ed by soocaIed selfsapPoant@a commit
In our own county. In h selection of
county candidates a list of names ap-
peared, selected by q few people, no
one knows just who, and the voter mad
no choice except to vote for the names
that thus appeared on the paiiot. We
are not kicking at this sort OF seiec-
ton in particular, for as we have be-
fore said, under the primary law sys-
tenn there is no other way, but we pre-
fer the convention system.
These are but a lev gol exam fpissre oo 81
the primary system Of cam
didates.
Another great objection Is the cost to
the candidates. For a state once pay
ing perhaps $4,000 a year, the candidate
could 1egitimately and usefully spend
twice the amount of his expected salary
while the candidate for governor, rep-
resentative for congress-, or similar
high Office must spend many thousands
to insure success.
The Pioneer Express has always OPP
posed the primary system except Tor
the higher Offices. Voters do have
some idea as to whom they desire as
candidates for president, senator rep
resentatiye and governor, but when 1t
comes to the minor state officers, ypt-
ers know nothing of the men tor whom
they are voting or opposing. For IN
stance with nine candidates running on
the republican ticket for railroad cons
m~issioners, the results were a mere lot
terry, nine-tenths of the voters voting
for three purely by guess.
The primary system has undoubtedly
been the means OF disorganizatiOn of
the regular parties to d great extent,