Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-01-29
POLITICAL GOSSIP

The proposed presidential prefer
ence primary, Mr.. Stevenson contend
ed, does not rise to the dignity or
legal Importance of a primary cleo
ton. 1t is therefore not to be class
ed as an election in the meaning OF
the state constitution The right Of
suffrage, he said, is not an unqualified
political right, but franchise de-.
pending upon law. The presidential
primary has been adopted in some
form by IS states, and, is recognized
in the official call issued by the re-.
publican national committee. ~ =
"This COURT said Mr.. Stevenson,
us not concerned with, the question
whether delegates elected under this
law are. seated. National conventions
exist independent of the law. Their
nominations have no legal, binding ef'
feet upon an elector. This statute is
not mandatory, and is not the only
method party can use for electlng
delegates. The old convention meth
cd is still open. 1t cannot seriously
be claimed that candidate for dele
gate or elector has a constitutional
right to participate in any caucus or
state convention.
Mr.. Carroll has come before the
court prematurely, said Mr.. Steven
son. He wanted to file as Root dele
gate. No Root petition had been FL
ed, or offered for filing, and until the
time for filing closed, it could not be
said that there would be no chance
to support Root in Minnesota. The
statute, he said, is silent as to the
duty of the secretary of state where
candidate asks to have his name
withdrawn. Mr.. Schmahl has stated
that he would heed such a request,
but this state of affairs had not sris-
en- in the case of Mr.. Root.
Presidential electors, Mr.. Steven
son said, are not legally bound to fol,
low the choice of the national con.
vention. He contended that;th con.
Trajectory requirement of the Mime.
sofa law about electors is harmless
A liberal Interpretation of the statute,
he said would make it unreasonable,
and any candidate in filing for elector
will have a proper conception of the
duties of that Office.
The court took the case under adj
visement, and a decision is expected
within week.
THAT WASHINGTON DINNER.
Progressive republicans of the
United States senate, together with
number of their colleagues. in the
house, discussed their political plans
recently at a private dinner. The
leaders. who are insisting that pro
gressive principles must prevail in
the next republican convention If
there is to be any hope Of political
success, are Senators Borah Of Idaho,
Cummins and Kenyon Of Iowa, LaFol.
lette of Wisconsin, Clapp Of Mime.
sofa, Gronna of North Dakota, Ster-
ling of South Dakota, Norris of Ne.
braska, Poindexter and Jones OF
| Washington and Works of California.
Every one of these senators stated
in response to the direct question
that the purpose Of their conferences
was not to revive the old progressive
party that split of from the regular
organization four years ago, but to
bring about such a condition that a
united front could be presented to
the common enemy in the coming
campaign. While the senators IRE
not disposed to talk now for publica.
ton, they said it is their purpose to
hold conferences with the leaders OF