Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-06-07
Why THEY DESERT.

The man who has been honored by
his party, who has been one of its lead
ers and who has stood for its princi-
pies, may be excused for deserving his
party, but he must show good reasons
for so doing. If he belongs to the doml-
nant party and joins the minority to
strengthen it because it stands for purer
politics and higher principles, his excuse
is a worthy one. He has everything to
gain from a selfish standpoint by stay
ing with the dominant forces.
If he leaves the weaker party a. did
Senator Plain of Milton. and Joins the
stronger party, his course is open to the
severest censure. The democratic party
in this state stands for higher principles
and cleaner politics than does the re-
publican.
a democrat in this state will have
difficulty in defending his position in
leaving his party.
he is with a hopeless minority in the
legislature and is therefore unable to in
huence legislation. In other words, for
a place on a committee or for a better
position near the patronage distributing
center, he sacrifices his principles. de-
serts the minority and joins the already
swollen forces of the majority. When
Senator Plain says that as a democrat
he is unable to influence legislation he
Is either fooling himself or attempting tc
fool others, probably the latter. An ag.
gressive, fearless, honest minority al.
ways influences legislation. They act
as the check upon the majority. The
minority party is a necessity in our dual
system of government. 1t always, if it
is not asleep or cowardly. influences
legislation and often compels a reluctant
majority to accede TO the popular de.
mand. The rate measure is a case in
point. If it were not for the democra-
tic minority the nation would clamor in
vain for a rate measure this session OF
congress. That we have a rate measure
such as it is, is due to the democrats:
that the measure is mo- as good as de
sired is in spite of the democrats, not
because of them.
If Senator Plain was a strong, fearless
man he could make himself felt in the
legislation as a democrat. \ fearless
man who stands for his convictions is
always respected and his influence is
always felt. Senator Plain is evidently
not made of the right material. He is
not one of the staunch minority.
His principles will no stand except
when supported by a comfortable ma
jority. OF course, a man has a right tc
change his mind, but it is only a weak
mind that changes because it happens
to be in the minority when the evidence
is overwhelming that that minority is
right.
The democracy Of the state should
take a hint from the desertion of Plain.
There are plenty Of just such weak men
who need bolstering ard
ment. If We had an active, aggressive
organization we could hold men of the
Plain type and there is no use of argu-
ing that we are better without them.
the woods are full Of such and the poll
teal organization that shows strength
that attracts them; they count when
they are not afraid. OF course. it was a
,,ictolya RI m ka n capator IF =. ~
Plains callber, but there was no excuse
in leaving the little fellow upholstered
while republican Vaccinations were be
ing used upon him.-Grand Forks
Evening Press.