Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-02-09
POLITICAL GOSSIP

| n Hegge and he was present at the
Trail county meeting and moved the
recommendation for the endorsement
OF postmaster at Hatton, and this was
unanimously adopted by the commit
tee.
"On account of the very severe
weather number of the committee
We're unable to attend Several tele-
phoned the chairman their regrets and
informed him that any business trans
acted by the committee would be sat
isfactory to them, and it is our opin-
ion that if the whole committee had
been present personally, there would
have been a larger and stronger ma
jority for H. H. Perry of Glendale for
national committeeman.
The Democrats about here, gener-
ally, seem to have the utmost conf
dence in the straight Orwardness and
ability of Mr.. Perry and believe he is
the person to harmonic our party at.
fairs.
Yours very truly
T. F. Murphy, State Committeeman.
Charles Speiring, County Chairman.
So
LEAP YEAR PARTY.
North Dakota Democrats who at
tend the achievement banquet in this
city on Washingtons birthday will
have an opportunity to hear two
of the foremost women in their party,
according to the announcement made
by State Chairman John Bruegger last
evening. Mr.. Bruegger has been ad.
vised that Mrs. Cullop of Washington,
D. c., president of the Democratic
Women's league in the United States,
will be present to deliver an address,
as will Mrs. Murie Keough of Chicago,
vice president of THAT organization.
Both of these women are prominent in
club circles of this country, are speak.
ers of note, and undoubtedly will re-
ceive warm welcome in this state.
Chairman Bruegger has sent out in
vitations to the Democrats of the
state and large gathering is assured.
The banquet will be held in the audi
forum and there will be number of
North Dakotans on the program for
short addresses. Among those who
have accepted invitations to speak |
are: Halvor Halvorson. Minot; John |
F. O'Connor, Grand Forks; Tracy |
Bangs, Grand Forks: w. E. Purcell, |
Wahpeton; v. R. Lowell, this city:
Wesley C. Mcdowell Marion: j. J.
Sullivan, Mandan; B. F. Burtha. Dick
inson: Judge A. G. Burr. Rugby;
Judge Nuchols, Mandan; Judge Coffey,
Jamestown.
TIRED or PRIMARY.
Geo. W. Wilkinson, editor of North
Dakota Democrat, is finding the pri-
mary slightly burdensome. We quote
from one of his editorials in part:
THE editor of The Democrat has
always been an ardent advocate Of |
the primary election as the most ef
fective instrument for preserving to
the electors of our state the right to |
select their own candidates for office, i
TO save them from boss chosen I
ticket. However, it can scarcely be
that this up-to-date system
has its weaknesses wherein Turk |
grave dangers to the public welfare.
Under our present primary law |
one procuring the required number of
to his petitions is entitled ,
to have his name appear on the Off.
cial ballot. candidate for any office
be may wish to occupy. In theory,
this provision is ideal, in as much as
it protects every citizen in his consti-
tutional right to run for Office. In
practice, however, only few years |
operation of the law has sufficed to de.
monstrate that almost any political
scalawag can get the necessary sigIA-
lures. Indeed, we have never heard of
any aspirant failing to obtain sufi-
cient names on his petition to comply
with the legal requirements.
This breaking down Of the law can
be attributed doubtless, largely to
these facts: o. Many of our voters |
sign the first petitions presented to
them, probably because that course
seems easier than to refuse and there
by take the risk of mourning the dis
pleasure Of the candidate and of his /
friends: (2) Self-impOsed candidates
knowing the ease with which sigma
natures can be obtained for the first |
petitions circulated, always take
pains to appear earliest in the cam
paign, soliciting signatures before the
voters have had opportunity to survey
The field and reserve their support for
The most available and most desirable
men, as sober second thought usually |
results in them doing.