Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-08-16
THE PRIMARY


mary election law. They would much
rather select party nominees at a con-
vention than to have them chosen by
the people at the primary election.
There is likely no such thing as
perfect primary election law, but with
its flaws it is nevertheless much to be
preferred to the old convention sys-
TEN. And though there is a primary
election, that does not prevent any
political party from endorsing candi-
dates for offices previous to the pri-
mary election. The wisdom in the
choice of candidates by the conven-
ton will then be given a test at the
primary election. Past primary cleo
lions show that the convention choice
has not always been the primary
choice.
A reactionary newspaper editor op-
posed to the primary election writes:
Under the old convention system men
were selected as candidates for office
on the basis of ability, integrity and
capacity for service" Now, says the
editor. the candidates are self-selected
and self-proposed.
Is it not possible that the people
voting at the primary election are as
interested as the political bosses were
in selecting nominees on the basis
of ability, integrity, and capacity for
service?
1t may be true that under the pri-
mary system there is some OF this
ness entering in. But who will say
that that was not the case under the
convention system of selecting NOM
inees? Who selected the political
bosses, and did they hold those posi-
lions because they were so eager to
render service to humankind?
The primary is a safeguard against
the boss-ridden convention. 1t is in
other words, the peoples convention.
Sure, there are self-seekers in poll
tics, just as is the case in all other
occupations where human beings take
part. But there are many Self-seekers
who do not file for office for the SIM
pie reason that they do not like to be
embarrassed by a showdown. If it
were as easy to get votes as some
folks imagine. there would be more
filings for office. Filings are not left
till the last day-at any rate not all
of them. IT the filings are entirely
unsatisfactory to the rank and file of
the party usually some public spirited
citizens encourage some other person
to file for the office in question. That
can be done under the primary election
law. But try and do it after the conven-
tion has made its choice and there is no
primary election. You are simply
stuck and you must submit to the con-
vention choice, be that good, bad or
Indifferent.
Minnesota reactionary politicians
would like to do away with the pri-
mary election, but in the event that
cannot be done, desire to make it as
ineffective as possible. The Iowa Law
appeals to them. If a candidate does
not receive 35 per cent of the votes
in the primary election the nomina-
ton must be made by a party con-
vention. With four, five or more can
didates the chances for one candidate
receiving more than 35 per cent of the
vote are rather remote.
Suppose that some time prior to the
last filing day there are but two or
three candidates for the nomination
and one of these candidates is an
outstanding character, a man with a
good record and ability who cham
pions the peoples cause. but is not
liked by the political Bosses, will not
do their bidding, there is nothing to
prevent those bosses from having two
or three more filings take place. Thus
the nomination is quite sure to be
thrown into a convention, as one can
didate for a state office can hardly
secure 35 per cent of the votes if he
has four or more opponents and they
live in different parts of the state,
each with their following. Thrown
into the convention the political bos-
ses have their opportunity to get in
their work. 1t is easier to handle the
few delegates than to tell the thou
sands of voters what to do.
They may talk about minority NOM
inees at the primary elections-and
certainly no candidate can be expect
ed to secure a majority vote or even a
35 per cent vote when there are
half dozen candidates-but we Will
take the primary minority choice
rather than to have it thrown back