Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1921-03-18
FRIDAY, MARCH Is. 1921
THE PRIMARY LAW

There are in New Hampshire as well
as in Minnesota those who would do
away with tho primary law, and they
are bending every energy to have the
legislature act favorable upon their
"minority" idea
AS the matter is Of especial interest
at this time, we reproduce an article
in relation to the primary law of New
Hampshire, written by Frank Knox, in
the Manchester Union. While not claim
ing that some of the big interests are
not still influential in the selection of
candidates put forth in the primaries,
especially by the aid of the non-legal
convention, a return to the old system
would bring back just the kind of dom
nance Mr.. Knox refers to.
In fact names mentioned in the ar
ticle, could be replaced by others we'll
known to Minnesotans, and it would be
altogether an article true to form as to
past and present conditions in this
state.
The article follows:
"There is certain type of mind
which can only see in the tremendous
republican victory of last fall a chance
to return to political conditions of the
past-an invitation to reaction. There
is yet another sort of republican who
has become impatient with some Of
the features of the existing primary
law, and the results achieved under it.,
and is ready, without giving much
thought to the consequences, to go back
to the old-fashioned caucus and con-
vention system.
And, in addition to these two classes,
there is a third and wiser class OF re-
publicans. who recognize the defects
and imp6rfections of the primary law,
but have not forgotten the evils that
hourished under a caucus and conven-
ton system. This third class would
move prudentlv and carefully, taking
one step at a time, amending and i'm
proving the law whenever possible, but
refusing to believe that real progress
is achieved bv going back to a system
which was repudiated because it lent
itself to the perpetuation Of railroad
domination in party and state affairs.
This class emphatically does not want
to take a chance that the rejuvenated
Boston and Maine. will ever again pick
the candidates for public office in New
Hampshire.
Nothing could be farther from the
truth than the assumption that the re-
publican victory Of last fall insures
another republican victory in 1922 and
in 1924. It is, on the contrary, the ex-
act truth to affirm-and it is sound poll
teal strategy, too-that it will be ex-
tremely difficult for the republican
party in state and nation to satisfy the
extravagant expectations Of the public
in the next IS months, and prevent a
reaction in sentiment which would give
US a democratic House in Washington
and put New Hampshire back among
the doubtful states.
The republican party in New Hamp-
shire has just won an unprecedented
victory. It won that victory under the
operation of election laws and methods
which are the direct fruit of long
continued, exhausting fight to end rail
road domination in state affairs. Con-
tinuing under these laws, with such
reasonable notifications and amend
ments as experience suggest, the repub-
lican party's tenure of power in this
state for long time to come cannot
be auestiOned,0