Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1914-07-16
PRIMARY CRITICS
DISCUSS LECTION LAW
s
Many Oisap e inted in Results Of
Primal : Election Law

the sentiment favOring the repeal OF
the primary election law. Ten years
ago the law was enacted in North Da-
kota 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 and
legislative Offices by the primary and
the selection of delegates to the state
convention in that manner. The fol-
lowing legislature extended the pri-
maries to all Offices. Since then each
succeeding legislature has amended
and strengthened the law, throwing
around it all the safeguards possible.
Many Disappointed.
1t 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 opera
ton. Because of the fear of the un-
popularity 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 gem
eral and it would be no surprise to-
see a bill introduced at the next Leg
islative session to wipe ont the prs
mafies .anils PROV is,s for. this aldzfask-
ioned convention system.
Dislike Multiplicity of Elections.
1.-The people are sore over the null
tiplicity of elections" said leading
Democrat today. Practically every
body in North Dakota favors the law
advocated by Hanna, Burke. He'll
strom and others, regardless of polit-
ical Affiliations, they elect officers for
four-year instead of two-year terms.
Many want the further restriction
that no Office holder would be eli
gible to reelection during the term.
This would result in a rotation of the
Offices and with the recall provisions
it would safeguard the people.
Disturbs Business.
"At present we have the primaries
and the general elections, which
makes every other year in North Da-
kota a nightmare, both for the poll
ticians and the common people.
Business is disturbed, bitterness is
created and dissension results. II
one instead of two elections each
year, it would be much better for
business in North Dakota and if we
had the recall the people could wipe
out obnoxious Office holders. The po-
litical organizations would not dare
put up candidates who were not
clean and no office holder would dare
to neglect his duty or abuse his
powers"
Candidates Have Great Expense.
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 half doz-
en- candidates for the same Office.
This necessitates expensive cam
paigns, which create bitterness. The
defeated candidates. in some instanc-
es, are so indignant that they work
in the fall for the nominee Of the op-
posing party. This forces the sue
cessful candidate to make a hard
campaign again in the fall. A can
didate for state ONCE will spend
from two to six months Of his time
and a great deal of his salary in the
two elections, then his ONCE is good
Four.Year Terms.
The convention system. four-year
terms of ONCE, the recall, may be the
slogan of some party in the 1916
the elections were every four instead
of each two years and the primaries
were cut out so we would have only
campaign. and II the present senti-
ment is maintained. the platform
should be . winner. There are many
who want to shorten up the elections
BY. demanding the short ballot
when the constitution lis chansed
to permit four-year terms. they
for only two years and he will have
to repeat his exparience.