Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-05-21
THE MAJORITY RULE

u ne outcome OIL the MluOC COlVou-
ton is variously discussed by the
press of the state and the general
opinion seems to be that the deliber-
ations of the convention were fair
and open, and that there was no eff
fort or attempt to defeat opportunity
for full and free expression by the
convention, and that the Insurgents
lost the convention for the reason
that they did not have the votes to
control It,. The Stalwarts controlled
the body, and it was entirely natu-
raj that they should select the dele
gates to Chicago and nominate the
presidential electors, exactly as the
Insurgents would have done had they
been in control. The rule of politi-
cal parties is by the majority, and
if parties are to be continued as
political organizations, this rule
must prevail. If the minority shall
go off at tangent and advocate the
support of a Democratic ticket when
ever it fails to gain the ends it seeks,
then we shall soon have no political
organizations at all, but rowing bands
of political guerillas and bush
whackers. seeking only personal
ENDS and individual ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
1t has been said by some Of themore
radical Insurgent organs that the
selection of delegates was not fair,
that improper influence was used,
and that the majority Of the con-
vention should properly have been
Insurgent. This is neither just nor
true. The people of the state had
free opportunity to select their dele
gates, the leaders and followers of
both elements of the Republican
party had ample notice of the hold
ing of the conventions and ample
opportunity to participate. There
were contests from only four counties
and these were settled exactly on
their merits. IL there had been UNI
fair tactics in any of the other coun.
ties we should have had contests
for the temper of the Insurgents in
this campaign has been exactly as
combative, indeed little more so
as that Of the Stalwarts. But We
shall have another test of strength
on June "a, when the primary cleo
ton will be held through the state
and when the people will have an
opportunity to vote directly for the
nominees they choose as party can
didates. We trust it will not be said
after that direct expression by the
people Of their choice, that unfair
methods were used or improper tao.
tics called into play. Surely the
primary election in June will be as
fair a test of the majority choice o.
the Republican party as it will bt
I possible to have under our present
system. rs
In the opinion Of the Trib
une, every paper claiming to be Re
publican, epery voter claiming to b,
Republican will be in duty bound
by his obligation to party, to sup
port the ticket that is selected as tn
Republican ticket. Newspapers
leaders or voters who advocate tn
refusal to vote the ticket when i
shall be nominated, for reasons o
private pique or factional differences
are not Republicans but politica
guerillas, and should be placed wher
they belong. 1t is to be hoped tina
the primary campaign on both side
will be SO conducted that there shal
not result bitternesses, hatreds, dii
ferences and prejudices that will ii
terfere with the united support I
the party ticket. Miscellaneous ri
elimination, abuse, and attack sery
no good purpose except to encourag
the common enemy. the Democrat.
DoiNGs At MINoT
Agents Of the Harvester trul
were at Minot during the state RI
M hi n a !. s.f,,, q