The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-10-24
FARGO GETS
Is meet OF
EDUCATORS
s7p
Big Convention VIII Be Here
Next Year
Primary Election Plan Has
Been Adopted
First Primary Is Being Held
This Afternoon

Grand Forks, N. D., Oct 24.--Fargo
gets the 1913 convention of the North
Dakota Educational association. The
after a spirited contest between Fargo
and Devils Lake.
New officers of the North Dakota
Educational association will be elected
under the primary system for the first
time as a result of the adoption by
the association last night, of the re-
port of the constitutional reviEion
committee.
After a lengthy contest in the aft
ernoon, the association, which con-
vened yesterday for its twenty sixth
annual convention, took up the ques-
tion of constitutional amendments
again in the evening and those pro-
posed by the committee appointed a
year ago were adopted with little dis
cussion and with only few minor
changes.
The most important change is in
the method of election. The primary
provides for the election of the offic-
ers on the first day of the session.
Each delegate upon registering is
provided with two ballots, one for the
primary and the other for the regu-
lar election. The ballot for the prim-
ary Is cast the first day, and If any
candidate has a majority of the votes
for any position he is declared elect
ed.
Nominate Two Highest.
In the event that there are positions
for which no candidate has majority
then the two highest candidates are
declared nominated, and the election
lies between them on the following
day, no others being eligible to COM
pete for the position.
On account of the fact that the first
day of the meeting had already pass
ed no nominations could be held the
first day, but the delegates are voting
on the primary ballot today. The re-
suits will not be known until about 5
o'clock this evening.
Supt. j. Nelson Kelly of Grand Forks
and Clyde r.. Travis OF the Mayville
normal are being boosted for presi-
dent. There are badges and stickers
for the two and quite a. spirited con-
test has developed n ~, 5
Discussion Opened in Afternoon.
The preparation OF the report of the
constitution-reyision committee late
during the afternoon session was the
signal for the beginning of discus
sion that lasted for nearly an hour and
half, at the end of which the asso-
citation was no farther ahead than
when w L. Stockwell, chairman of
the committee stepped forward to re-
port. The discussion, which, for a
few minutes, gave promise OF lasting
much longer than it did, was finally
settled by adjourning until after to-
nights programme, when the commit
tee will report a change in its pro-
posed revisions
The trouble arose over the article
pertaining to the election of officers.
- Elwwr ~
a general feeling of dissatisfaction
over the manner in which the officers
have been elected, and the revision
committee undertook to remedy the
trouble.
Opposed to Committee.
But majority OF those present did
not, agree with the committee. Here
tofore. a nominating committee. con-
sisting Of two members elected by the
association and representative from
each, of the departments, has made
the nominations. The greater dissatis-
r..ction arises in the filling of the Office
of president. The revision committee
undertook to remedy this by having
the nominating committee name two
candidates for president. and then
have them voted on by the members
Of the association. At least three poll
ing places for depositing the secret
ballots were proposed.
Mr. Stockwell, who is chairman of
that committee, moved the acceptance
of the report and action on It, article
by article. But Pres. Fred e. Smith
of the Wahpeton Science school, inter-
nosed an objection. Mr.. Smith wanted
an article, providing for primary
election, substituted in place of the
nominating plan suggested by the
committee. He said he had asked two
members of the committee to substi-
tute a primary plan. as included in the
Wisconsin constitution. in place of arr
ticle s. which the committee had pro-
vided. He said both had refused. stat
ing that the committee wanted to
stand by the report as they had
made it.
Wiscon Plan Bad.
Mr.. Stpckwell, in explaining the
committees stand, said that Mr.. Smith
ha6 approached him with the Wiscon-
sin primary plan, but that both had
agreed that as It stood, ii did not har-
morlize With the constitution as out
lined by the committee. and conse-
quently 1t was deemed advisable to
leaye things just as they were.
In the course OF the discussion, Mr.
Stockwell's motion was seconded. Mr..
Smith then moved a substitute motion
that the entire report be referred back
to the committee with instructions TO
substitute good working primary
nlan in place of article S.
After protracted discussion, ii was
moved to lay the substitute motion on
the table, The chair called for a ris-