Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-11-08
THE PRESlDEN TIAL PRIMARY

Before very long North Dekotans will be casting
about to make arrangements for the presidential primary,
which will be held in March. Two tests Of the existing
law in this state have shown its futility, but there are no
suggestions looking toward its amendment.
At the presidential primary the voters in each party.
using separate ballots. elect representatives, to the respect
i've party national conventions to be held later, and at the
same time express their preference as to presidential par
t nominees.
The number Of delegates to be elected is determined
by the national party committees, and these delegates,
under our state law. are elected at large. AS there may
be 20 or more delegates to each convention, and as there
may easily be several times as many candidates for the
position as there are delegates to be elected. the voters
task at the booth is one Of no small completely. Every
consideration Of fairness requires that the representation
shall be widely distributed throughout the state, and when
a voter in Grand Forks county is required to decide as to
the merits Of perhaps a dozen candidates in Ward. Oliver
and other distant counties. men whom he does not know,
and whose names he may never have heard before, and
when every voter in the state is confronted by a similar
condition. it is inevitable that there will be a lot of blind
voting. voting purely by guess.
The presidential preference vote tends to confuse
matters. The law does not define clearly the duties of the
delegate With reference to it. It is taken for granted that
whatever the preference Of the individual delegate may
be. he will seek, in good faith. the nomination Of the pres
idential candidate for whom the voters of his party have
declared Themselves. But tho law says nothing about the
manner in which this effort shall be put forth, or how long
1t shall continue. If, as some men have insisted, the del
egate il required to vote, ballot after ballot, for the can
didate for whom he is instructed, 90 long as that candidate
chooses to remain in the field, the effect is to tie up the
vote of tho entire state delegation to an individual who
may never have had the ghost Of a chance to be nominat-
ed. and to promote directly the pernicious practice of
making merchandise Of the votes Of a delegation, trading
them off for appointive jobs or other substantial favors.
The law which We have is a concrete expression of
that state Of mind which is suspicious Of everyone and
everything. and which induces men to tie the hands even
Of the men who they themselves have chosen for fear that
they might do something that is corrupt.
If that spirit did not exist we should proceed differ
entity. We should send as delegates to our party conven-
tons the most capable and trustworthy men whom We
could find. Having chosen them, We should give them a
free hand, indicating our preference IL we chose, for their
guidance, but having faith in their integrity and conf
dence in their judgment, trusting to them, in the light Of
their knowledge and experience. to do the best thing pos
zble for the state and the nation. We do not see tit to
do it In that way. Instead, We pick our men blindty, and
then We halter and hos-tie them. rendering them in
capable OF effective work for good. but still making it
easy for them to be used Is helpless instruments Of evil.