The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-06-13
FRIDAY. JUNE Is. 1880.
THE POLITICAL SITUATION,

Cn1Oh1 j NE Id, LSyU.
THE POLITICAL SITUATION.
The third party idea seems to ta q
prevalent one among the members OF
the Farmers Alliance. During the
last week the state convention of
South Dakota has definitely declared
for a third party movement and orga.
ntzattOn, and tho call issued for u con.
ventiOn OH July 18th. In North Da.
kOta. at u similar convention ut James.
town, also held last week, IL strong
sentiment WIS expressed for u third
l'arty. and only rerressed Ivy the argu.
melit that the objects of the associa.
ton can be better carried out through
control Of the primaries and cOnven.
lions of both the present political par.
ties.
SO far as u distinctive farmers l,uli.
cy is concerned. there is no doubt but
that the latter plan is best; particular.
ly is this SD in u county which is 50
evenly divided in political matters as
this. Last fall, the members of the
alliance attended the conventions of
both parties in this county, both par.
ties framed their platforms to suit
the alliance resolutions, and one demo.
cratic convention embodied the ALI.
ance platform in toto IN Its own,
without even having a copy for refer.
ence. In each convention of tile two
legislative districts, one or two of the
three candidates nominated were req,
resentative alliance men or farmers,
and when the alliance men went to
the polls, they made up their ticket
with the names o: these farmer calltli.
dates, chosen from each side without
reference to other political affiliations,
with the result that in most cases the
farmers were elected. In many other
North Dakota counties, the same tao.
tics were pursued, and where either of
the political parties had overwhelming
majorities, the alliance men filled the
primaries and convention. and dictat.
ell platforms and nominees, or run in.
dependent candidates. In conse.
quencc, the legislature elected was al.
most solid body of farmers and ALI.
ance workers. We do not intend, at
this time, to compare the work done
with that Of other legislatures, but
simply say, that it might have been
better and might have been worse,
but SO far as 1t could, it proved that :.
farmer Legislature was very similar In
all human characteristics to "a legisla.
ture composed of any other class OF
classes of men. But, the phase of
politics, that we wish to call attention
to, is this: Is it fair, is it right. to ut.
tend the primaries, to act in conven.
lions and take part in making nomi.
nations which the actor does not i'm.
tend or exl@c: to support as Il whole
at the polls! What is IL platform
worth which is duplicated by parties
of opposite views, simply to catcl
votes from the farmers, and which
after all, only catches their votes fol
a part of the nominees! Neither the
republican, democratic or alliance par.
ty can clear their skirts from this sor
of political work in this county las
year. and the query naturally comes
is this farce in politics to he re.enact
ed this year, and if not how can it b,
helped!
We do not pretend to be able to an
swer this question, but instead, vii
interpose some obstacles to "a correct
solution. There is the liquor ques
tion; Notwithstanding the fact thai
the national democratic party is un
questionably whiskey party as
whole. yet this county democracy last
year uDequivocaly declared for prohi.
bitiOn. which is an alliance plank, ant
if necessary, they can do it again. On
the other hand, many of the leaders
OF the republican party are strong
anti.prohibitionists and yet they swal
lowed - prohibition plank six imclle.
thick, and 1t Is presunlable that theil
digestion is in good order for another
this fall. On the lottery question
five out Of six Of our legislators voted
for it. but presume any of them would
run Oh a farmers platform opposed t.
1t, or If not, other statesmen can easil,
I've substituted. Then there are til,
county offices. We presume thai
either Of the candidates will he will
ing to I'll! his hair with llay.see,l tc
get the votes, and it is likely the ALI
ance will see to it that some of The
county stalls are filled with alliance
oxen.
These remarks OIL the political stu
alton. may seem little mixed, but
the situation is mixed, still we believe
that when the fog rises, that it will be
found that there are only two parties
In North Dakota for this falls cam.
paign, the prohibition and anti.proli.
bitiOn. 1t may be, the fog won t rise
until after election is over, but never,
the less. the biggest fight in the mex,
legislature will he OH this questions; il
the antis succeed, the lottery question,
will follow as u matter of course, will
u good prospect of winning.
WHEN WIVES CAN VOTE
The approaching school election,
makes important the following op;n
ion of Attorney General Goodwin
which is published in the Rolla Star
In a letter to Mrs. James Hannah o