The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-03-19
NORTH DAKOTA
HOLDS PRIMARY
First Ever Held for Presidential
lnstructlons-Outco Watched
With Interest.

rdTSO, ". u, MdfCn ia pfeSl-
Dental preference primary, the first
ever held in the country, is in prog
ress throughout North Dakota today.
Roosevelt's campaign managers in
this state. who have been conducting
a whirlwind campaign during the last
few weeks, declare he is certain to be
the popular choice. but this is disputed
by the LaFollette followers, who have
also been busy. 1t is the general opin-
ion that both Roosevelt and LaFollette
will lead Taft in this state, although
the friends of the President hope that
the division in the ranks of the in
surgents may result in a Taft victory
( Mr.. Bryan is doubtless the favorite
! of a majority Of the Democratic vot
ers but his retirement from the presi-
Dental race will, it is thought benefit
/ Wilson. The New Jersey Governor
has delivered several speeches in this
state and was we'll received. The
Clark forces have also carried on
campaign. Democratic leaders predict
that few will vote for Harmon.
Coming first as it does, the North
Dakota primary has been marked by
the most strenuous campaign that any
state will have, and the state is today
battlefield that many declare will de-
termine the result of the presidential
warfare. 1t is known that Col. Roose-
welt attaches the greatest importance
| to the North Dakota situation. and it
is stated that the result here and in
the district primaries in New York
state next Tuesday may determine
whether he will continue or abandon
the fight for the Republican nomina-
ton. The state to hold presidential
preference primary will be Wisconsin,
two weeks from today.
Washington, March 19.-North Da-
kota's presidential primary in prog
ress today is expected by campaign
managers of both parties to furnish
a strong indication of which way the
political wind is blowing, and the re-
suit is awaited in the capital with
GREATNESS interest, 1t is known that
Senator Dixon, Roosevelt's campaign
manager, has staked his all on the
next two weeks, and the battle of
North Dakota will be one of the princi-
pal ones of the whirlwind Rooseveltian
campaign. If the ColoneTs arms are
not crowned with victory there, many
of his friends believe that a fight will
be hopeless.
Besides North Dakota, presidential
preference primaries will be held this
year in Wisconsin, Nebraska, Oregon,
New Jersey and California, and posi-
bly, in few other states. These will
afford the first test in the nations
history of a closer to the people"
nomination of presidential candidates.
In these elections delegates to the ma
tional conventions, which are to nomi-
nate men for president and vice presi-
dent, will be elected and instructed for
whom they are to vote in the national
convention.
Scattered as the states are that will
hold popular presidential primaries
next month and in May, and of a varie-
ty of political faiths, they will, in con
nection with today's primary in North
Dakota, afford pretty clear indica-
ton of the men the voters desire as
their standard bearers.
The presidential primary law was
first adopted by Oregon, two years
ago. largely through the influence of
United States Senator Jonathan
Bourne, Jr., who represents that state
in the Senate
1t has been suggested by some poll
ticians in Washington that the dele
gates chosen by primaries may not
be admitted to the conventions, but
the supporters of the primary plan
scoff at this idea, and declare that no
politician or set of politicians would
dare to refuse to recognize and seat
delegations chosen by popular vote.