The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-03-25

signed to destroy party lines. Rather
was it aimed at n man power, or
the dominance of a party by a coterie
OF individuals. Under the provisions
OF the measure the reformers expect
ed the names Of the various aspirants
for office to be submitted to the voters
of each party. Every member Of a
party was to be granted an opportunity
to express his choice for that party's
candidates. The theory was fine. In
practice it is rotten to the core,
When the primary system is put
into actual practice, what do we find?
A careful study OF the returns OF Tues
day viii reveal the fact that the min
ority party has stepped in and stolen
the opinion of the majority. Mr.. La
Follettes plurality will approximate
10000. There was only about a is per
cent vote cast py the democrats.
Nearly $4,000 democrats went to the
polls. called for republican ballots, and
marked a eross after the name of the
senator from Wisconsin. Some Of
them joke about Il; but it is no laugh
ing matter. Tho straight put reoub.
lican vote would have given Mr..
AHSS6ORSAb the plurality IId was INC
choice of the republicans. Tie demo-
Gratis simply said: Here, you fellows.
You don't know what you want. You'll
have to be satisfied with the man we
force upon YOU" And they made good
their word, usur2ing the will Of the
dominant party.
There were severaI reasons why the
democrats entered the republican
lists. The infusion of state issues
into the national campaign influenced
th%ousanos- The occurrence of munich
pal elections on the same day as the
presidential primaries had It's effect.
The victory of LaFolIette in Mandan
was due in no small measure to the
Issues of a municipal campaign.
There should be some changes in the
present primary systef. Keep the pri-
riaries; but make them the party pri-
rlaries they are supposed to be. For
the republican primaries have repub-
lican officials who are privileged to
challenge the issuance of q republican
ballot to a voter whom they know has
been, and probably ever will be a
democrat Enforce the same provis-
Ion at the democratic polling place,
the socialist and prohibitionist. This
would put a stop to democrats med
ding with a republican contest. 1T
would prevent republicans from inter
fering with a democratic struggle. 1t
would give the voters Of each party an
opportunity to express their viii and
no be robbed Of their choice by rene
gades of another political faith.
Young Peterkin, at play near a po-
KiticaI battlefield, unearths a ballot
box. Old Kaspar takes it from the boy,
who stands ~expectant by. With rem
inescent gaze the old man turns it
about in his hands.
The democratic votes lin the North
Dakota preferential primaries Of 1872
he mutters to himself.
Little Welhelmine looks up with
wonder-waiting eyes
Nov tell us all about the war, and
what they fought each other for"
1T was the democrats Kaspar cried,
sfwho put the republicans 20 rcut; but
what they fought each other for /
could not well make out. But every
body said that twas a famous vfc-
tory
"Bue what good came OF 1t at last? =
asked little Peterlin.
why that I cannot tell,1 says ha.
.eBut twas q famous victory"
"And what were you, my dear
grandpa Young Feterhin chambers
on the old mans knee.
II was q democrat, Pekerlxin mine"
old KaspaF chuekles In childish glee,
but twas a famous victory