The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1913-02-06
Open LETTER TO
THE LEGISLATURE

IIl[ L[G|0LAIukf
Geo. 7. Murray Advances Modern
Views on Needed Primary Election
Reform--Provides Tor Pr sisesIon
Conventions.
Editor Independent:
It has been asserted BY an sniasnt
authority that "the remedy for the
evils Of democracy. is more lsmoc.
racy.''
The initiative and referendum re-.
ceive their plaudits from those who
believe in this axiom Of government.
We may add to this that II ~ IN.
dertake to clarity the waters Of
stream We should teEin. at ito source.
Like the church that said, "contro,
the infant-msn and you control the
church." That is, purify tho source
Of the church material and you purify
the church. Those who have ascend.
ed a mountain to the timber line"
have seen that "the wind that made
the bent twig made the crooked
tree"
80 it IL. II We are to enlighten 70.
litical matters we must enhghten the
source Of political authority. II We
desire the Representatives Of the poo.
pie to be worthy Of more confidence,
then more confidence should be plac.
ed in the people. He who inclines
from the wishes Of the people never
had mind shaped by the wishes Of
the people.
! believe that the four million PEG
pie who voted for Theodore Rooss-
welt on Nov. last. did 20 more b.
cause they desired TO emphasize
these principles than from any other
motive.
Our primary election law -
method Of passing hnal judgment to
excellence at par, but the initiative
feature or the bringing out Of candt.
dates is very deficient. A It u now
we can only choose between otheET's
choice. II IL also short In the pro.
vision to ascertain the voters wishes
on the platform as we'll - tho adop-
ton or rejection of 1t.
The primary election act provides
for precinct, county and state com.
mittee meetings after the primary
election. These committee meetings
with some notifications, can he held
prior to the primary election and
thus provide for the combination of
the convention and primary election
systems for which the following plan
is suggested.
convention-Primary Combination.
Hold precinct conventions six weeks
prior to primary election and norai-
nate precinct officers. instruct tor
county and state officers and planks
for state platforms.
Hold county conventions ave weeks
prior to primary election. and, upon
roll call. onefourth Of Ill precincts
favor placing any name on the ticket
for any ofhce. SO order It. Also upon
majority vote instuct for state Oh.
GERS and planks for state platform.
Held state convention four WEEKS
prior to primary election. and. upoa
rollca II. whenever one.fourth Of al
the counties favor placing any name
for any state Office on ticket, 20 order
it. Also adopt state platform num-
herring and titling lin not exceeding
three words) each plank.
Make all instructions from prseinct
TO county and from county to stats
convention in writing. Provide Pen.
atty for failure or refusal to carry
out the Instructions. Allow county
and state conventions to place not
exceeding three names on the ticket
for the same office. Allow individual
and scif-seeking nominations Is now
provided for. Publish the platform
IN state publicity pamphlet. Submit
all county and state tickets and plat
form BY No. and title Of each plans
to the primary election for adoption
"a rejection.
A large number Of the candidates
are placed on the running list" now
BY q private caucus Of politicians.
What desire IL that all the vet
ers may have voice in the caucus
that starts the races"
GEO 4 MURRAY