Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1912-03-17
NORTH DAKOTA
STORM CENTER
Political Battle Royal Elk
pected in State Prim.
aries Tuesday

tue iedulnS parties an opportunity u
express their preference for randi
dates for the presidential nomination.
The primary will be The first OF It's
kind ever held In any Of the States
and will mark an important innoya-
tion in American politics.
The idea OF presidential preference
primaries IS an outgrow OF the iire-
election plan which originated in Ore
son several years ago The prima-
ries in this State next week will af-
ford the first demonsi ration OF how
the idea works out in practice. The
theory on which the scheme Is based
is generally conceded 10 he sound by
the politicians of all parties II is
the theory that delegates who place
In nomination men for the highest
offices in the land should represent
the people directly, and not merely
the politicians. The direct elections
will DO away with the conventions,
which heretofore have been held for
the selection Of delegates To the ma
tional conventions. and {: is believ-
cd, will insure the carving out OF
the popplar will. with no miscarriages
due 20 political manipulation.
In addition to North Dakota. the
states that will try out the primary
plan this year In the selection OF the
whole or part of their delegations
To the national conventions include
New York, Wisconsin. Illinois. Neb-
raska, Michigan. California. OREGON.
Ohio. New Jersey and South Dakota
II the results OF the plan work out
as It's supporters anticipate. and there
are found to be- no counterbalancing
bad effects from the new Law II Is
safe 10 say that by 1916 the direct
primary system will be adopted by
practically all of the States.
The North Dakota primaries. how.
ever possess an interest that Is OF
more direct importance to the poll
licians for the time being than any,
thing that concerns the theoretical
aspect of the new law. Upon the re-
suits Of the popular vote to be cas-,
here next Tuesday is believed 10 de-
pend in no small measure the chance
Tor success OF two aspirants for the
Republican presidential nomination
Theodore Roosevelt and Robert N
La Toilette. OF the two. the chances
OF La Toilette are most vitality con-
cerned, II La Toilette should sween
| the state. the result would he TOM
porarily a setback for the Roosevelt
Doom On the other hand. II is cor.
coded on all sides that pronounced
Roosevelt victory would sound rho
death knell of the La Toilette can
dida'y, for II has been claimed ali
along that the La Toilette brand of
prcrressiveism has taken decper roo,
IN North Dakota than in any other
state and that the Wisconsin senator
mas had proportionately a larger mum
Der of followers among the Renubli.
cars Of North Dakota than were 10 he
found IN his home State.
The campaign which practically
closed today has been strenronslv
conducted on both sides. MANY Of
Inc bsei speakers in the Roosevelt
and La Toilette camps have been
S,'mplne the State from end 10 end
the past two weeks. The end of IN,
ilsht finds the Roosevelt managers
! hr'miul OF confidence in the re.ul,
They undoubtedly believe that the
former President will sweep the state
one OF The principal grounds for thl,
Denet Is found In the fact that Col.
onel Roosevelt is known in North
Dakota better than he is in mos.
states, for he lived on a ranch here
Tor years.
The La Toilette managers are anx-
iouS for fine weather on primary day.
as much depends upon II In the rural
districts. The La Toilette forces con-
tend that the rural vote will be strong
Tor the Wisconsin senator. The
Roosevelt boosters. on the other hand
say they have nothing to fear on that
score
rats name will appear on the pri-
mary ballot, but the friends OF tho
President long ago decided "a make
no active fight here. II Is the only
state they are willing to concede IN
the insurgents" without n struggle
The President has MANY friends here
but there are many Republicans who
are against him, some OF whom ara
against him because they are for
Roosevelt or la Toilette and other.
whose opposition is based upon the
Presidents espousal of Canadian rec.
iprocity, which was considered iniu,.
ical to the agricultural interests OF
NortkDakota.
In the Democratic party there will
be no contest for the delegation te
the Baltimore convention as a result
OF an agreement between IN Wilson
and Harmon forcs TO let Il 20 20 Gov.
ernor Burke. The Harmon and VII
son people, of course. are hopeful Of
placing some Of their men on the del
eeaticn. so that in the event Gov
ernor Burke has no chance for IN,
presidential nomination. they will h,
able to support either the Ohio or ths
New Jersey governor.
! Mnnsn Nanani9 naIl.. - n