Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-04-22
SIMPLE N D1REcT

The election reform plan supported in the leg
%islaturc and at the polls by the Independents of the
state would have made the state election of 1922
a practical repetition in form of the recall election
OF 1921, had it been adopted. The bill, which failed
Of approval at the polls largely through: inadvertence
and lack OF organization, provided for the clinlina-
ton of party names and tickets in the election of all
state and legislative officials. The principle has
tons. and the election OF judicial and educational
officials. 1t operates perfectly. 1t does not prevent
occasional undesirable features being introduced
into election campaigns, but it does not contribute
to them. and it makes it possible for the voters to
decide questions on their own merits, without the
complication of names, and slogans and symbols
which have no bearing on those issues.
The recall campaign was free from national
party labels. The issues to be determined were
solely state issues, and the candidates who had been
reference to those issues. The Nonpartisan league
supported the retention\of the: existing state admin
istratlon and the continuance of the policies which,
it had pursued in the management of the state in
dustrles. The independents demanded the removal
of the three responsible officials, the abandonment
of their policy, and the installation Of men who
would put an entirely different policy into effect.
Is anyone foolish enough to contend that the
situation would have been improved had the candi-
dates been required to run on party tickets? The
voters in that election were not deciding on national
legislation. They were deciding whether and in
what manner certain industries should be continu-
ed in operation by the state, what taxes should be
levied and for what purpose, and whether the finan-
cial methods of the existing administration were to
be continued. There could not have been a better
or fairer way of presenting the issues. And those
issues were determined, as they were presented, on
their merits.
If the election reform bill had been approved
We should this year avoid a lot of complication and
circumlocution. The Independents. representing
voters in both parties, would have in the field a tick
ct headed by Governor Nestos and committed to
the carrying out of the policies which have been in
augurated under him, and which have thus far sue
|cessfully been carried out. The league group, also
containing voters from both political parties, would
have its own ticket, standing for a reversal of the
present state policies and a reversion to the practices
and policies of the past. No national issue would
be involved, and there would be no complication.
Quite separately, the voters could line them
selves up under their appropriate party designations
in support of party candidates for national office.
thus state issues would be decided strictly on their
merits and national issues on theirs. Because of
the failure of the reform law it is necessary for us
to spend a good share Of the summer in straighten-
ing out our tickets and getting ready for the fall
election, and it is impossible for many voters in
each faction to express themselves as they desire on
their ballots without crossing over into a party col
umn where they do not properly belong.