Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-07-03
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THE LESSON OF THE PRIMARIES

THE LESSON OF THE PRIMARIES
Although he'was ill and unable to
be in the state, although he could not
take the stump and defend himself
against the attacks Of his political
enemies and opponents, and although
pretty nearly everything was said
against him that could be said to
prejudice the voters against him, Sen
ator McCumber is renOminated at the
senatorial primary and will be re-
elected Tor the six-year term
His majority was not a large one,
but it must be remembered that his
candidacy was handicapped by his
own enforced absence from the state,
by the fact that tariff legislation with
which he was intimately concerned
is always unpopular in the first few
months after revision, and that he
was continually the target for the
whole battery of insurgent speakers
and newspapers. His election by a
popular vote under all the circum-
stances is a splendid tribute to the
good work that has been done by
Senator McCumber in the senate, and
to the good work that was done by
his friends in the state in defending
hin against continual attacks.
Mr.. Gronna wins by a large major
ity over Judge Engerud. This was
not unexpected. Mr.. Gronna has been
in congress for several terms, has a
wide acquaintance, has had good
organization through the state, and
had the benefit of the insurgent vote
and of IL good many stalwart votes
that for various reasons were cast
for him. Mr.. GrOnna has never been
considered very much of an insurgent
anyway, and his presence in the in
surgent ranks was due largely to the
mutations OF politics that brought M.
n, johnson to the senate from GrOn-
mas county. Mr.. Engerud made Il
clean and dignitied campaign, but in
a good section of the state he could
not hope in one campaign for the
senate TO make and profit by the ac-
uuaintalce that Mr.. Gronna has made
in his six or eight years of public
life. AS a commentary upon popular
choice OF senators, it might be haz-
arded that no legislative assembly
would at the same session choose
two men so radically different in ten
permanent and platforms as McCumber
and Gronna.
Hanna and Helgeson have won the
congressional nominations, and here
again we have a direct division be-
tween the congressman chosen. MIR.
Hanna has been a stalwart and Mr..
Helgeson a pronounced insurgent.
Both are chosen by the same cleo
torate at the same election. 1t would
indicate the effectiveness of personal
campaigning, and that the voters
after all vote more for men than they
do for issues or platforms.
C. A. Johnson wins the guberna
torial election TO. the second time
He should be supported and elected
by the republicans. He is entitled
to it, after being twice chosen by
the voters at fair election cover
ing the whole state. The indications
are that the republicans, now that a
ticket has been chosen representing
both factions OF the party pretty
equally, will lay aside their differ
ences and give pretty harmonious
support to the candidates. They
ought to do so, else where is the use
of holding a primary at all? The re-
publicans have profited little by the
election of a democratic governor for
two terms. 1t is time that ambitions
and carping leaders were sent to the
back ground, and that the voters
themselves took a hand in the cleo.
ton and notify the leaders that it is
time for them to get into line or get
out of the ranks. The quarrels IN
this state have not been in the rank
and file-they have been among the
,a.dor. Mr. Johnson is entitled to
the Mace for which he has been twice