The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-02-19

Tomorrow is in a way an epoch
event in the light for II Roosevelt del
eeation from this state to the national
Republican convention. l'u the work
of the convention will not be tho end
of the battle. Rather it will he the
beginning. What must he lone now
is to rally the supporters of Roosevelt
for "a solid lineup at the polls on
March 10. That is the vote which
counts. The delegates named tomor-
row VIII only be the messengers bear
ing the will of the people TO the con-
vention. The delegates named tolnor-
row must be elected in d that the
vote of North Dakota for Roosevelt
AT Chicago may he in the hands of
his friends. But unless the majority
of the votes in the primary are for
Roosevelt, these delegates. though
elected, can not under the law of this
state, vote for him. Their votes must
he given To the candidate endorsed
by the people.
In the month which remains before
the primary. no Roosevelt Republi-
can should Let The grass grow under
his feet. Not only is it important that
he himself votes in the primary, but
1t is also important that he becomes
ut once n working committee to in
duce others to do the same thing.
The argument, the reason and the
logic are all on the side Of Roosevelt.
Senator LaFollettc's cause a been
deserted by its ablest leaders, not be-
cause they have lost faith in LaFol-
lettc's principles. but because they re-
allie that he has no chance in the
world to he nominated. and that it is
folly to stay by a sinking ship when
another that offers safety and life is
standing by. Medill Mccormick. who
contributed the funds for LaFollet-
ties western battle. and who has the
~stupendous power of tho Chicago Rec
ord-Herald TO use as he pleases. would
not have quit the senator mi gone
To Roosevelt had he not realized that
~l.aFollette was certain to be defeat
cd in the convention and that holding
to his candidacy to the last rather
than turning to n stronger man,
meant the nomination of Taft.
Here in North Dakota men like F..
Smith-Peterson, whose fidelity to the
cause of progressive Republicanism is
too we'll known to need even a refer
encc are not quitting Senator IaFol-
!ctte's cause and joining the Roose-
Welt movement without reason. They
see the conditions and realize that if
Roosevelt is not nominated-if the
battle is between L~al'ollette and Taft
that North Dakota Republicans will
h" forced to remain ut home, vote
for Taft or support a Democrat. The
lesser of these evils of course would
he To vute for Taft. But all of them
can he avoided by the nomination of
Roosevelt-a Republican for whom
every member of the party. no mat
ter of what fractional affiliations. can
vote with pride and enthusiasm.
These are the reasons why the lead
crs are lcavin. LaI'ollette and turning
tn Roosevelt in North Dakota as we'll
as other states.
North Dakota only has ten dele
Gates in the convention. it is true.
hut an enthusiastic endorsement of
Roosevelt on March ~ means a hun
drcd votes for his cause. This Is the
first state To speak in the presidential
choice and our action will become the
keynote in the Roosevelt campaign
in other states. If our endorsement
is strong. it will prove to the country
that the masses of the party demand
Roosevelt. If it is Indifferent the
Taft management will at once exploit
II AS evidence that the demand for
Roosevelt is not based on fact. and
that the public is Indifferent as to his
candidacy. 1t would not he true to
say now that Il failure of North Da-
kota to endorse Roosevelt in March
means the nomination of Taft. for the
movement for Roosevelt is too strong
to be sidetracked. But it can he
truthfully said that a failure to en-
dorse Roosevelt in North Dakota will
he h biggest setback his campaign
can have.
TO avoid these things. let every
Roosevelt Republican resolve that
from o until the polls close on
March 10 he will work and talk and
vote for RooSeyelt