Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-05-03
PARTIES in STATE AND NATION

LIN poAucdA party as we KNOW II rs a national lhStl-
tuition. The first parties in the United States were divided
on national lines, and whenever their. differences extend
ed int the domain of state and municipal affairs the is
sues which separated each other were still national issues
and the extension of the line Of cleavage into other realms
was always illogical and has very often been mischevious.
In attempted Justification of this extension Of the po-
litical party into fields where it does not belong the ex-
cuse has been offered that in order to maintain a strong
and effective national organization it is necessary to be-
gin at the very bottom with the local precinct, and to pro-
coed from that through ward, city, county and state. each
contributing its quota Of strength to the organization. 1t
has not always been as frankly admitted, but it is a fact
nevertheless that the spols system in one of it's most un-
desirable forms has accompanied this development, of the
party, and Offices Of honor or profit in each of the various
subdivisions have been held out as rewards to faithful
political workers. The result has been a very marked de-
gree of compactness in the organization, but the public
service has suffered by the confusion of national and local
issues. and by the consequent selection of public officials,
great and small, because of their party servicabinty rath-
er than their usefulness to the public.
That the plan which has prevailed has given real
strength to party organization is greatly to be doubted.
People will wax enthusiastic over a great national issue
upon which they have clear convictions, and will fight
with the party organization through thick and. thin for
the success of the principle to which the partyi is commit
ted, but they are less prone to apply party tests to local
affairs. Hence, the practice has been general Of voting
the party ticket in the national contest and ignoring the
party entirely in local affairs. The tendency Of this pract-
ice has been to weaken rather than to strengthen party
feeling, and there il every reason to believe that because
of it party allegiance has rested more lightly on many
persons than it otherwise would have done.
In the state of North Dakota by the terms of a bill
which is being submitted underHthe referendum it is pro-
posed to eliminate the political party as such from all our
state and local affairs, retaining party designations and
party machinery in SO far as they apply to the affairs OF
the nation. II this bill is approved by the people official
sanction will be given to the practice which in fact is very
generally followed. Namely the practice Of .electing men
to state and municipal positions because of what it is be-
lieved they stand for in state and local matters rather
than because of their Formal aniliation with one or other
of the national parties. This step is logical and sensible
and it is bound to be useful. It will remove the political
party from a field where it does not belong and it will
enable the voter to give full vent Of his party spirit In
matters where the political party is a useful agent. It
will separate thinss which are not related. and will en-
able the voter to Concentrate his attention upon each
Issue in which he is concerned without confusing It with
any other issue. This change has been advocated in North
Dakota for some time. and we believe that II the voter
consider it calmly and dispyessionately they will Civ. it
their approval. s