Bismarck daily tribune., 1908-11-08
SHALL PRIMARY VERDICT.
STAND?


Following close upon the election
at which there was second express
sion of the people as to their choice
for United States senator. the cry
of fraud" raised in some quarters,
possibly to create the impression
that the expression of the people
was not such a one as should be
needed, and to encourage some mem
bers of the legislature to believe that
they have reason to disregard the
recommendation for Mr. Johnson as
the Republican candidate for sena-
: tor, and be absolved from their
pledge made at the June primary.
to support the candidate of their,
party securing the popular endorse
ment of the people. .s.
We have now had two primaries on
the senatorship. One of them was
held in June, at which two candi-
dates, popularity accredited as "stal-
arts were eliminated from the race,
leaving Mr.. Marshall and Mr.. John
son to continue the battle at the gen
eral election. That election has been
held, and Mr.. Johnson has been
chosen as the Republican candidate
While, there is no legal pledge on
the part of the members of the legis.
lature to abide the result, there is
a moral pledge sufficiently binding
to make even the legislator upon
whom moral pledge may rest light
ly, if such there be among those
elected, stop and take heed.
The cry of fraud will not suffice
to relieve legislators of the moral
pledge to support Mr. Johnson, as
the candidate receiving the greatest
number of votes, In the first place
there is no evidence of fraud in the
election. Some Democrats may have
voted for the senator, but that was
to be expected. But the returns
do not show that there was other
than a Republican choice. If some
Democrats voted, their votes were
cast, some for Mr. Johnson and some
for Mr.. Marshall. 1t cannot be said
or shown that there was any con-
certed voting Of Democrats for Mr..
Johnson or for Mr.. Marshall And
if there was not. Mr. johnson is GER
tainly entitled to the fruits Of his
victory at the polls.
The Republicans of the state and
their leaders, stalwarts as well as
insurgents, would do well to take
heed Of the expression of the people
at the recent primary and discou-
rage efforts to nullify the primary
choice and throw the entire cleo
tion into the legislature, with the
view of defeating Mr.. Johnson in
the only body that can legally elect
him to the United States senate. The
temper of the people was pretty well
tried in the primary, and consider
ing the battle that was made against
Mr. Johnson, first by the field at
the June primaries and then at the
November election by Mr.. Marshall
and his friends, it cannot be said that
the choice Of Johnson was not de-
cisiYe. s*ss.
Mr.. Johnson's campaign, as the
Tribune pointed out several months
ago, was not literally financed, and
the vote cast for him was sponta-
neous vote. If it should be disre-
# garded, If the Republican leaders of
the state indorse any attempt to
disregard it what will be the effect
with a large number of the Repub-
. Hcan voters of the state who have de
4 c1ared for Mr.. johnson? Surely it
will not make them more loyal to
the Republican party, more loyal to
the party leaders il any there are,
who encourage any attempt to dis
4 regard the choice Of the voters in the
Legislature.
Aside from the fact of doing simple
Justice to the candidate who has
won this election, there is to be con
sidered the question Of party In the
state The people have declared for
the primary. They have declared
that they want an portunity to ex-
press themselves on United States
senator. The supreme court has
said thatstheg have a right to such
an expression They have expressed