Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-07-07
PRIMARIES ARE
IN DISREPU1f
MANY STATE POLITICIANS
AND CITIZENS OBJECT TO
THEM.
HolD 100 Many ELECTIONS ms
Unsettled Conditions Of Business
Due to the Numerous vot-
ing Days.
n0LD TOO Many ELECTIONS

Due to the Numerous Vot-.
ing Days.
Fargo, N. D., July 3.-One Of the
surprising results of the recent prim.
airy elections in North Dakota is the
sentiment favoring the repeal Of the
primary election law. Ten years
ago the law was enacted in North
Dakota after . long agitation. 1t
was deemed then the only thing that
could curb the machine power in
North Dakota. The first law provid-
ed for the nomination Of county a1d
legislative Offices by the primary and
the selection of delegates, to the
state convention in that manner.
The following legislature extended
the primaries to all offices. Since
thea. each succeeding legislature has
amended AID strengthened the law,
throwing around it all the safe
guards possible.
Many Disappointed.
It has been evident for some years
that many Of those who were most
enthusiastic In the advocacy Of the
primary law were disappointed in.
the results attained through its 0per-
alton. Because of the fear of the
unpopularity of this idea there has
been, until within the last few
months, little open criticism Of the
measure. But recently the restraint
has been removed. Many papers
have contained editorials against the
measure and the editors have been
stalwart republican, insurgent re-
publican, democrats and others. The
sentiment seems to be quite general
a1d It would be no surprise to see a
bill introduced at the next legislative
session to wipe out the primaries
and provide for the old-fashioned
convention system.
Dislike Multiplicity Of Elections.
"The people are sore over the
multiplicity Of elections" said a lead
ing democrat today. Practically
everybody in North Dakota favors
the law advocated by Hanna, Burke,
Hellstrom and others, regardless of
political affiliations, the elect officers
for fouryear instead of tvo-year
terms. Many want the further re-
striction that no Office holder would
be eligible to reelection during his
term. This would result in q rota-
tio1 Of the Offices and with the recall
provisions 1t would safeguard the
people.
Distrubs Business.
AT present we have the primaries
and the general elections, which
makes every other year in North
Dakota q nightmare, both for the
politicians and the common people.
Business is disturbed, bitterness is
created and the dissension results.
II the elections were every four in
stead Of each two years and the
primaries were cut out so we would
have only ! instead Of two cleo
ton each year, it would be much
better for business in North Dakota
and II we had the recall the people
could wipe out obnoxious Office hold
ers. The political organizations
would not dare put up candidates
who we're not clean and no office
holder would dare to neglect his duty
or abuse his powers"
Candidates Have Great Expene.
Most Of the criticism made against
the primaries is the expense to
which 1t puts the candidates IN being
forced to make two campaigns. In
many instances there are two to a
half q dozen candidates for the same
office. This necessitates expensive
campaigns. which create bitterness.
The defeated candidates, in some ii.
tances, are so indignant that they
work in the fall for the nominee OF
the opposing party. This forces the
successful candidate to make a hard
campaign again in the fall. The
candidate for a state office will spend
from two to six months of his time
and a great deal of his salary il the
two elections, then his office is good
Tor only two years and he will have
to repeat his experience.
Four-Year Terms.
The convention system, four-year
terms of office, the recall, may be the
Of some party in the 1916
and II the present senti.
ment is maintained, the platform
should be a winner. There are
many who want to shorten up the
by demanding the short bal.
lot. When the constitution is chang
ed to permit four.year terms, they
would also change the affairs around
30 the people would elect three state
offices, a governor, a lieutenant gov.
ernor and a treasurer. They would
place In the hands of the governor
the power to name the other state
officers. In this way If the govern.
Or died there would be al elected
man to succeed him, and an elected
man would handle the state cash.
The advocates of this system may
ask the next legislature to take the
necessary preliminary steps to bring
this about. It would greatly simple
~ matters. It would make the gov
more directly responsible and
by giving them the appointive power
more efficient men could be selected
Tor the different offices and better
could be obtained. With the