Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-01-04
MEMBER OF ASSOCIATED PRESS
LEADERSHIP AND ITS RESPONSE.
RIllTIES,

BILL IIeS.
The two houses of the legislature
have organized, peaceably enough after
the struggles preliminary to the organ
ization caucuses. The so-called "insur-
gents control the house organization,
and, it might be said, the senate or
ganizaton also, since combination of
senator's numbering some who have
been classed as insurgents and some
who have been classed as "stalwarts'
have captured the majority of the sen-
ate republicans and dominated the or
ganization, although it may be said that
the domination has not been unyielding
or unreasonable, and all republican
members of the senate have been taken
into consideration in the first steps of
the organization of the upper house, as
far as majority can take all members
into consideration and at the same time
keep its domination intact.
But there are some things worth
while observing, and one of them is
that the troubles in the republican party
have come about to considerable ex-
tent through the sometimes unyielding
domination of those who have been in
the majority. This is difficulty that
grows into the majority easily and the
evil effects of it are not always disclosed
until insurgency takes away the pow
err from the majority and gives it to
what has been the minority. 'Insur-
gency." of course, is the rebellion of the
minority against the rule Of the ma or-
ity, and when the minority becomes the
majority, it is no longer insurgent be-
cause it has nothing to insurge against.
Authority cannot rebel against itself.
Whoever is long in authority will dis
cover the ease with which domination
becomes habit And whoever is new
i'll authority will do well to guard
against the tendency, too frequent in
politics, to rule at whatever cost. So
far as we have observed. this tendency
has not manifested itself with the lead
ers iii either house of the legislature
sNho have had the greatest amount of
= experience in political or legislative af-
fairs. We trust for the good of the
party it will not manifest itself. 1t is
>on'y natural there should be contest
for control and authority. That is as
natural tendency in politics as breath
ing IS in being. But is is a sign of
real leadership not to carry domination
or control to the point where it be
comes obnoxious to the minority. This
has been, as we have said before, one
of the evils in politics both in this and
other states. Broad minded, liberal and
reasonable majorities can go a long
ways without encountering mishaps.
There are good men and capable men
in both factions of the republican party
in this state. 1t would seem that the
real leaders fboth factions would find
this as propitious a time as ever will
come to get together, agree upon a
policy for legislation i'll the interests of
the state, and carry it ont. without any
great differences except those individual
differences of opinion that arise as to
matters of general political and econom-
ic wisdom. Not all republicans agree
as to the wisdom of things for which
the majority may stand To belong to
a party is not necessarily to sacrifice
individ,,alism of opinion or thought. To
reset court is not to acknowledge
blind adherence to its every decision.
We respect the institution, however we
may differ as to some of its DEGREES.
1t is so with politics and parties. When
the party declares, however, for certain
enactments, those of us who may not
agree with the majority are politically
pledged to carry out the will of the ma
jority. always reserving the right to
urge good reasons why the majority
may be in error, and always reserving
the right to induce the majority to
change its views if possible.
And it is fair assumption that all
men are pretty human and equally re-
sfonsive to the demands of duty and
the call of good citizenship. There are