The Irish standard., 1912-03-16
INTENSE INTEREST IN NORTH
DAKOTA PRIMARIES FEW
DAYS AWAY.
LAFOLLETTE? T. R.?TAFT?
La Toilette On His Speaking Tour OF
the State.-Roosevelt Faction Is
Confident Of an Easy
Victory.


NJ La Toilette began his whirlwind
finish Of the North Dakota campaign
and interest in the presidential pref
erence primaries. which will be held
Tuesday. appears to be as tense as
might be expected in a general cleo
ton. Roosevelt and La Toilette head
quarters at Fargo are working over
time--conferences are being held hour
ly. literature is being sent out and
campaign speakers are touring the
state and speaking wherever AN audi.
ence may be gathered to hear them.
North Dakota voters have been
brought up on politics. They have
threshed out questions in state and in
factional fights. and it. is natural they
should take keen interest in the COM
Ing presidential contest. Their renliz-
alton that North Dakota's action will
be watched by the entire nation and
that action here will be regarded as a
political barometer, increases that In.
| terest
| But back OF this is the interest in
the state fractional fight which has be-
In an inexplicable sort Of way 30 that
old time political landmarks appear
to have been swept aside. In sense.
North Dakota's electorate may be COM
pared to jury and the question be-
fore II is the sincerity of Theodore
/ Roosevelt.
The Stage is set for the closing days
lao -
passed through Fargo on his way from
Minneapolis to Valley City, and
he brought several OF his Minnesota
supporters with him. From Valley
City lie went to Jamestown. speaking
there He speaks at Mandan, Bis
marck, Fargo and Grand Forks.
Letter to Progressives.
| In the meantime. publicity has been
given to an open letter addressed by
the senator to the progressives of
North Dakota in which he outlines his
position. and enunciates platform
upon which he will continue his ma,
tional fight. and which will he made
the basis of a platform fight at the
Chicago convention.
His own supporters are enthusiastic
over the plan and announce that with
Fighting Bob" on the stump, the tide,
which they claim Is now in their favor.
Robert NJ. Pollock, president Of the
North Dakota Progressive Republican
league, said:
LA Toilette will carry the state by
10000 majority. This is a conserva-
tive estimate Tho Roosevelt men
are equally confident.
North Dakota. will he for Burke for
president, but even interest in local
elections might not prevent Demo
cratic supporters from accepting in.
dorsement of w. J. Bryan Of La Fol
lettc and voting for him In the pri
marics. The presidential preference
primary ballot is unique. The names
of the presidential candidates head
the ballot in rotation. Beneath them
are the names Of the Roosevelt and
La Toilette ticket Of delegates. The
voter can vote for the head Of the
ticket and then vote for the delegates
The delegates, 81 in number, are
run together with no designation as
10 whether they stand for one of the
candidates or the other. Under thit
condition Roosevelt or La Toilette
might carry the state and delegates
supporting the other be elected. The
delegate pledges himself to vote fol
1.-THE candidate for president receiving
the highest number of votes. but ever
then peculiar complications might
arise.