Grand Forks daily herald. (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1914-1916, 1914-10-07
NEW r.

passed through its first direct nomin-
ating primary. and many comments
are made on the result. Two facts
stand out prominently. One is that OF
the entire number of voters registered
in the republican and democratic par
ties, less than one-half attended the
polls. The other is that of the candi-
dates for the most important nomina-
tons within those two parties. the
candidates supported by the party or
ganizations-that is, the machine can
didates-won.
From these facts the conclusion Is
reached by not a few writer's that New
York's primary law has proven a fall
ure. There are other facts, however,
to be considered. While it is true that
less than hall the voters participated
in the selection of their party candi-
dates, 1t is also true that a far greater
number participated in this work than
could have been induced to participate
in 1t, wen indirectly. under the con-
vention system, for it is said to be a
matter of record that the number par
IkS1H0O1Ab IN la la wac 1oA
greater thar the number ave partici-
pating In party caucuses. Hence, on
this showing. the new system is an
Improvement over the old n in the
matter Of ~arousing the interest of the
voters.
Any candidate who has the support
Of his party organization Is dubbed a
machine candidate by those who are
not in harmony with the organization,
or who are interested in the success
of another candidate. And there is
quite a widespread belief that no ma
chine man can be a worthy candi-
date or a good citizen. But. If the
subject be inspected a little more
closely, it will be found that the ma
jor candidates supported by the two
great party organizations in New
York are really strong men with ex-
cellent records. So far as h outside
public is concerned, the best known
of these are the republican candidate
for governor and the democratic can
didate for United States senator.
Whitman, the former. has won public
regard by his work as prosecuting at
torney, and is generally regarded as a
clean. strong and competent man.
Ambassador Gerard. who has been
nominated by the democrats for SEN
ator. has, during the trying days Of
this war. performed with diligence,
skill and tact, the enormous amount
of work that has been thrust upon
him in Germany.
Whether by accident or design the
heads Of the w party organizations
appear to have given their support to
exceedingly strong men, and there is
tent. at least. they were Influenced in
doing so by the fact that the ~nornina-
lions were to be made, not by a small
body of delegates in a convention, but
by h great mass of voters. who
might. perhaps, be stamped, but who
. could not be bribed, or manipulated
or controlled. If the party leaders,
or bosses. the term is a matter of
choice, had given their support to
men recognized as unfit, with the
choice to be made in an open primary,
they would have been counting defeat,
loss Of prestige, and political oblivion.
They were too shrewd to take the risk,
even had they desired to do 30.
Even II the primary law has not
yet worked any startling change in
New York, it is too early to condemn
1t. Under it there has been partici-
patton by a larger number Of voter.
than formerly in the nomination OF
candidates, and, according to what Is
generally known of men. the stronges,
and most capable candidates have
been selected. That the organization
men in the two parties supported
these particular candidates is at least
some indication that these men rec.
sognized in the direct primary an in.
strument whose possession by the PEG.
PIE made it wise for them to be or
their good behavior.
AS to he application of the direc,
e primary to the choice Of such a swarm
Of minor candidates as have to be
chosen under the New York law, tina,
is q farce, but not q greater farce thar
II h election of these men by popu.
lar vote. The reform needed in that
v case is not the multiplication of cleo.
SHstions. but the shortening Of the ballo,
70 that the names on It will convey to
Hho yofor ooro pooJ -n.s.-