The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1912-04-04
Press Comment

Bottineau Courant (dem.);It is evil
dent that some democrats voted the
republican primary ticket on Tuesday.
We believe this is a dangerous prac-
tice, as matter of policy and very
| improper one as a matter of right.
No member of one party has any
shadow of right to a voice in the coun
ellis of the other. 'rButting in" on the
other fellows business is an evil prac-
tice and should be discouraged.
Bismarck Tribune: The Steele
Ozone sounds the keynote Of the ar
gument advanced by friends of the
present primary system in North Da-
kota when it says: And suppose the
democrats did vote for LaFollette here
and there-haven't they got a right to
change their minds?" That is just
what is wrong with the situation.
They have the right to change their
minds Everyone has the right to
change his mind. Free thought and
free speech are inalienable rights pos
sessed by Americans from the hour of
their birth. A voter may claim to be
republican one day, a democrat the
next, prohibitionist the third day, a
socialist the fourth, and a what-not
the fifth. He is acting perfectly with
in his rights and none win dispute him
that privilege.
The primary election system origin
ally was not intended to obliterate
party lines. Its theory was that vot-
ers of each party would each have an
opportunity to cast a ballot for the
men whom they believed were best fit
/ ted to serve them in the respective
/ offices of government. Under the old
caucus plan it was claimed the rank
and file of voters had little to say as
/ to who would be the party nominees.
| The primary system, so it was suppos-
| ed, would give each individual voter
a voice in nominating the party candi-
| dates. Returns from every county in
the state show, instead Of the theory
working out successfully, that voters
of one party called for ballots of the
other party, and stole from that party
it's right to choose its candidate.
Tactics such as this cannot be clas-
Il sified as clean politics. Similar plans
were tried under the caucus system,
but democrats soon learned to stay
with a cool reception when they at
tempted to enter republican caucus
and take a hand in proceedings. I'm
der the present system there is moth
ing to prevent the man who ordinarily
Il votes a democratic ticket to call for
! republican ballot and vote that in
: the primaries. Then when the gener-
al election comes he sinks within the
confines of the polling booth, where
none can see nor hear, and assiduously
scratches ks after the names of the
democratic candidates. He's simply
changed his mind. That's a good ex-
cuse- perhaps. It's shabby politics
and a slSulking way to usurp the pow
er Of the republicans.
Party primaries are wanted, not 9
general election, such as has been held
in North Dakota on so-called primary
Il days. Let each party regulate its
own primaries. Let it designate Its
Il own judges and inspectors and give
these election officials the right tc
challenge the issuance of a party bal
lot to a voter whom they know to be
of another political faith. That Is
the only way that Theoretical party
nominating primaries cdh ever W.
J come actuaIities. The present system
is nothing more than general cleo
ton, and party lines are wiped away
In the recent election the shrill CRY
Of lie progressives has pierced the
air. "The vote for LaFollette is the
voice of the people" Democrats have
snatched off their hats and tossed
them high In the air with tuzzas and
cheers. "The voice Of the peoplei'
That may be true. Was the preferen.
| tial primary a peoples" election? 4
peoples election Is a general cleo
ton. LaF,ollette's victory was sup
posed to have been the voice OF ths
republican party. But no! It was tht
"voice Of the people" Truly the demo.
Gratis of the state are too generous
i when they say the republicans are etht
people This is The Tribune's con-
. tention The election was the voice
& of the people" It was not the voice o.
the republicans. 1t was q genera
election, instead of q party nominal
Il ing primary.
"But haven't got a right to change
lnny mind2" asks the democrat wht