Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1909-1915, 1912-02-09
WHY A CONVENTION?

WHY A CONvENTION? .sg'sl
Grafton Record-John w. Scott OF
Grand Forks county is opposed to the
presidential preference primary law
on the statute books of North Dakota
He has suggested the calling of a
mass convention for the purpose Of
selecting delegates to the National
Republican convention. The sugges
ton of Mr.. Scott has apparently
aroused great enthusiasm in differ
ent parts of the state and messages
seeonding his suggestion have been
wired the Grand Forks Herald and
Evening Times. -
Mr.. Scott is so we'll satisfied with
his suggestion and its reception that
he now proposes date for the same
and more messages signed by practi
cally the same names as were append
ed in the Grand Forks dailies.
The claim made by the adherents
Of the convention system is the ne
cessity of complying with the call
of the National Committee, which
failed to take into consideration the
presidential preference primaries in
several states. Mr.. Scott and his
friends believe delegation from this
state chosen by the primary system
will not be seated in the Chicago con
vention and the state thus deprived OF
it's voice in nominating a presidential
candidate.
This argument is foolish in the
extreme and only advanced to give
some reason for violating the law OF
the state. Mr.. Scott by his arrogant
assumption of wisdom seeks to make
himself party boss, and the appar
ent sentiment favorable to his conven
ton proposition is almost entirely
manufactured
One who is familiar with promin
ent men in this state and their politi
cal affiliations must be struck with the
fact that in the majority the names
signed to these messages in favor OF
the convention scheme are old line
stalwarts who have been inspired by
leaders to push the convention plan
The coupling of the name of Theo
dore Roosevelt with the movement s
also in large measure responsible
for many signatures which could not
otherwise be secured.
This whole scheme, as we see it
is a clever move to discount the effect
of North Dakota's presidential pre-
ference primary. 1t is known that
North Dakota is against a re-nomina
ton of President Taft. If the election
is held as the law contemplates, the
vote for Mr.. Taft will be so extreme
~ small that it will show to the ~coun
try the opposition of the Northwest
to the president, and this is what the
administration desires to avoid.
Under the provisions of the law
the Republicans of North Dakota can
express their preference for any man
Those who wish to vote for Roose
velt delegation will have that priv
lege and there will be no question OF
the seating of the delegation from this
state at the Chicago convention unless
there Is contest. If out one set OF
delegates present credentials showing
proper election under the new state
law. there is not the remotest posi-.
biltty that the committee on creden.
tails will refuse to seat its members
II, on the contrary. Mr.. SCOTS scheme
should be carried into execution and
the presidential preference election
proceed, the contest resulting would
give the Taft managers just the op
portunity they desire to thwart the
will Of the people of this state. Mr.
Scott assumes unwarranted authority
in attempting to usurp the rights both
Of the Republican voters as q mass
and their CHOSEN representatives, the
Republican state committee.
If a convention is right and prop
er let the state committee take the
lead in the matter and then the re
sponsibility of attempting to violate
the state law: can be placed on the
shoulders of men vested with auth
ority. ,.,5;,,
WI rs