The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-10
PARTY is WAKING UP
DEMOCRATS IN NORTH DAKOTA
BEGIN TO SHOW SIGNS OF
ACTIVITY
FIRST FIGHT AT GRAND FORKS
MayOraIty Contest to he Made
the Starting Point of an
Aggressive Cam
paign.
speeiaI to The Globe.

Special to The Globe.
GRAND FORKS, N. d., March 10
There are signs of life in that branch OF
the Democratic party which is located at
Grand Forks, and some of the old timers
predict that it will be in the state cam
paign this fall, and that it Will .e ono
of the determining elements in that strug-
gle.
The history Of the Democratic party III
North Dakota has not been fortunate
one. The majority of the early settlers
were Republicans. and the Democrats. be-
ing in the minority, coquetted with the
Populists to their undong The folly OF
the Republican leaders in 1852 lost them
the election, and one of it's results has
been the establishment Of a Populist par
ty, which has been a thorn in the flesh az
both parties ever since. But the Re-
publcans have succeeded in recovering
from the effects of the blow which they
administered to themselves at that time,
and the Democrats now reap the results
of their own folly, as well as that OG
their adversaries
In 1892 a wave Of Populism swept over
the state as it did over many others,
and there was demand that it should
be represented on the ticket of the dom
inant party by one or more candidates.
The separate party movement had not
vet attained great proportions, and there
were many IN ln6 republican party VINO
wished to stand by it, who had imbbed
enough of the Populistic spirit to make
them DESTROYS of seeing a candidate from
among the common people placed on
the ticket The candidate Of this ele-
ment was Roger Allin, of Walsh couu-
ty Gov. Burke was considered to be tho
representative of the slk-stOcking crowd.
between whom and the farm element there
was war to the knife. Allin was a pain
farmer, and was acceptable to those who
were dissatisfied with the administrator,
and who feared the elevator ring, which
Gov. Burke was supposed to represent,
The convention was held, and Burke was
renominated, and the farmers went Our
Of the party That fall Shortridge was
elected by the combined votes of Populists
and Democrats That victory led 10 the
disruption and disorganiaztion of the
Democratic party. So far as this sta g
is concerned, there is no Democratic par
ty, even in name, and with a legal ex-
istence. The work Of fusing and trading
ard combining was carried on until tho
party found that it was merely O pare
of the 'Independent-Dem party,
which was in the field in the last cam
paign.
The first move by the Democrats to
revive their existence as a distinct party
was made here last week when the mass
convention Of Democrats selected city
llChel ana look steps TO perfect an
ganization for future work. The nominee
for mayor is B. S. Brynjolfson, and this
is the only office in which there Is any
great amount Of interest. The nominee
is a young man but an old politician
as he has taken part In many state con-
ventions during the past few years The
other two candidates, Dinne and Wheel
er, are Republicans, and if party lines
are drawn, there is a feeling that the
Democrat may be elected as the Bepub-
lican vote viii be divided between the
other two
The effect Of the movement on the city
election is, however, one Of the least
important things about 1t. Some Of the
leaders have expressed their determine
ton to do what they can to make this
movement the nucleus Of a greater one
to reorganize the party in the state AT
large, and there are some hopes eE-
pressed that this will be successful
There are a number Of local Democrats
who in the old days of the party were
prominent in it's councils who have no
sympathy with the populistic movement.
Among these men in this city are Tracy
r. Bangs, Judge TempletOn, ~ l..
Withheld and Willis A. Joy. all of whom
took part in the meeting last week, ana
who are hopeful Of good results
1t is perhaps a curious fact, but fl is
1t IdcL L1dl IHeTe are many IteUAD-
licans who are as anxious to see 10
strong Democratic organization ia this
state as any Of the Democrats are Tho
Republicans have too great a majority
to do efficient work. Under existing con-
ditions the Republican who receives tho
nomination of his party for a state Office
is morally certain Of election. No mat
ter how unfit or incompeten3 he may
be, there are enough who will rally to-
the support of the old. party candidate
TO insure his election though there may
be a great falling off in his vote This
has been demonstrated time and again.
In consequence there are many men who
seek nominations at the hands Of Re
publican conventions who would not dare
to go before the people if they were not
certain that the party strength would
be sufficient to carry them through. nh
the parties were more nearly equal in
strength there would be better men NOM
mated, and the state would stand 70
chance of having better government.
Therefore, if the present movement rC-
suits in a strong Democratic orFla3za-
ton, there will be satisfaction among
the best men Of all parties.