Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-11-17
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SENATORIAL RUMORS.

: II. SENAlOfilAL hUMOEIS.
The senatorial sstring fiends'' are
at work and one of the stories COM
ing out of Minneapolis is that Sen
ator Hansbrough is to make the race
for the senatorship with the assis-
lance of Congressman Marshall and
Congressman Gronna. The report
says that Marshall has had enough
of the senatorial struggle and will
not be candidate before the 1egis-
lature. but will throw his strength
to Hansbrough, but for what reason
is not stated. Congressman Gronna
is reported as being for Hansbrough
for the reason that Johnson is from
the same county, which has not room
for two members of congress, one
in the house and one in the SEN
ate.
That Senator Hansbrough will be
candidate before the legislature
is evident from the letter which he
has sent to the different members of
the legislature, urging his experience
and prominence in the senate as the
reason why the state should return
him instead of new man. It is
true that Senator Hansbrough oc-
eupies a position in the senate that
it will take a new member a long
time to attain, and that in the Iegis-
latfon to be enacted by the next con-
gress that position will be one of in
fluence. This argument was present
ed to the people of the state at the
primaries, but they chose to select,
. first between Messrs. Little, Hans
brough, Marshall and johnson, they
Weeded out Little and Hansbrough,
and at the second primary they Sc
lected Johnson over Marshall. So
far as the people are concerned,
therefore, a majority of them have
said that they want Johnson in the
senate, and they are willing to fore
go the advantages that might accrue
through the retention of Senator
Hansbrough. -.ss 4
As to the pledge feature of the
primary law, which it is declared the
supreme court has Knocked out"
that feature Is in no different light
that it has been all along. No .legar'
y pledge can be enforced against a
member Of the legislature to do any
particular thing, that is with in his
discretion, since there is no way of
enforcing such a pledge. But the
people of the state have expressed q
choice as to the senatorship, and
under law providing that they do
exercise such choice, passed by a
Republican legislature with the in
dorsement and participation Of Re-
publican leaders of the senate. The
members of the legislature have
taken a pledge to abide by the law,
and that pledge is admittedly only
moral obligation and has never
been anything else. The supreme
court decision, rendered after the
members of the legislature had all
been nominated, merely said in ef-
feet that they could not have been
compelled to take such a pledge, and
that no penalty of disqualification
could have been inflicted had they
&c not taken it. But the fact remains
3 that they did not take it, and that
there was a general all around agree
nent to pay more attention to the
substance Of the law than the form,
so far as the senatorship was con-
cerned.
This is the form the matter as
sumes when it presents itself to the
members of the Legislature. There
are no means of compelling any mem
Der to vote other than as he desires
Tor United States senator No pen.
atty can be inflicted IL member
fails to obey his pledge now that
Il 1t has been said that he did not have
4 10 take 1t. But as a matter Of obedi.
ence to the spirit of the law, and
as q matter of good faith to the
people OF the state who voted In the
Republican senatorial primaries the
Tribune believes there will be only
one answer when member Of tbs
Legislature asks himself to ques-
tion as to whore his duty lies. @
~ z (
County canyassing boards are de.
rIaring the official returns In the