Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1882-11-17
What CAN the Matter Be?

/ Vu0t Chn the M0Ctcf DeS
The election of Mansfield was a polt-
zeal breeze that was not expected by even
the party that brought him out, and he
himself was struck very nearly as hard by
the result. The republicans were just
beginning to recover from this surprise
when they were struck between wind and
weather by the announcement that D.
W. Maratta, the democratic candidate for
council in this district, was elected.
Scarcely had they begun to recuperate
from this shock when the announcement
came that j. w. Goodrich, one of the
democratic candidates for representative,
was elected. This announcement was
nothing less than apoltical cyclone, and
we are beginning to wonder when this
thing will end. A few more hreezes like
this would knock the wind out of the
sails of John B. Raymond for
delegate, and there is no tell
ing how many mora counties
from 'tother side of the river are to be
heard from, and they may yet send one a
surplus of 100000 to add to the demo-
cratic majority in New York. While
Democrats are accredited with an affinity
for whiskey and an antipa,hy for water
there is no question but what navIgable
streams like the Missouri are mlraculously
prolific of democratic voters.
The majoritles for Mr. Goodrich, so far
as ascertalned, which are thought to be
reliable, are as follows: Griggs 800.
Stutsman 1876, Kidder $50, Stevens 25o.
total 1886. Majorities against: La Moure
rs, Barnes 400; Ransom 400, total SIG
The complete and Official returns will
probably reduce the net majority to 400
or 500, but that is enough, God knows,
to stagger the average republican.
This is another sure thing gone down
in the "wreck of matter and crash
of worlds,'' politically speaking,
and the Alert is determined
not to be surprised at any po-
lltlcal news henceforth.
Only few short weeks ago an Alert
reporter attended democratic legislative
meeting at the court house IN this city,
which was so small in the number attend
ing it that out of charity we did not refer
to that feature Of the convention. Suffice
it now to say that they could have been
counted on ones fingers aud had two or
three fingers left. There was no conten-
ton for a nomination at that convention
for no one wanted it in the face of what
seemed inevitable defeat. Who ever
dreamed that that little assembly of un-
terrified democrats had named the mem
Der of the council and one of the represen
tatives of the l4th legislative district! but
the result shows they did. They felt the
hopelcssness of their undertaking
themselves and their speeches, even
that OF the audacious and sanguine kcl
eher, were the animation of despera'
tiop that inspires one to whistle vigorous
ly to keep his courage up while passing
through graveyard.
There is cause for the result of thu
election in this district. 1t is not chance
nor is it freak of devilment on the par
of the voters The district is largely re
publican. The candidates of the repub
iican convention were certainly as wei
qualified in every essential particular a
the candidates of the democratic cOnven'
ton. 1t was not the personal populari
ty of the democratic candidates that Sc
cured their election nor the personal un
popularity of the republican candidate
that brought upon them defeat. Nei'he
can it be accounted for oy discussions il
the republican ranks for Mr.. Nickeus ant
Mr.. Benson each received u strong sup
port in his own county, the only plac
where there was any dissension agains
either. The Alert is inclined to &C
count for it by the republican cand!
, dates resting on their oars in the be
lief that they had a sure thing Will
their dlligent opponents, Messrs Maratt
and Goodrich, were out among the peo
pie in all parts of the district shaking
I hands and inquiring after the health o
voters babies. While republican candl
dates were sitting in their offices waitin
, for the offices to come to them, the demo
cratic candidates were out getting l
their work, and the result shows they di
:: it we'll. The Alert repeatedly warned tn
repu alicans aud candidates before tn
s election that sure thing of an electio
$ had beaten many man, and urged theI
to guard against such result in th
election, but the warning went unheede
and the result is now visible to the make
eye. The Alert regrets the result, bu
+ insists upon placing the responsibillt
where 1t belongs. .......