Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-06-26
TODAY'S PRIMARY ELECTION

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the patriotic status Of North Dakota in the minds Of
many thousands of outside people for some time to come.
If the candidates picked by the Townley machine are
nominated by najorities approaching those which they
received two years ago, that fact will be interpreted as
evidence that the people of North Dakota are lacking in
patriotism. II those candidates are defeated, or If they
are even nominated by greatly reduced majortties, the
outside Interpretation will be that the people Of the state
are loyal to the government, despite the appearances of
the past two years.
1t is unfortunate that the result Of the election will
be interpreted in this manner. but it is inevitable. AS a
matter of fact, the people of North Dakota, taking them
as a group. are loyal to the government, and have been
at all times. They have rested under the suspicion of
disloyalty because Of a leaj krship which has been impos-
ed on. many of them. and which has been accepted for
reasons entirely apart from. questions of loyalty. The men
who have been responsible for the creation of the Nom
partisan league and for the shaping of his policies have.
in many cases, been guilty of disloyals and. sedttious
speech on many occasions. They belong to that group
of socialists whose practice it has been, to ridicule and
belittle orderly government and the recognized institu-
tons of a civilized and progressive society. Their atti-
tude with reference to the war has been entirely consist
ent with their general attitude on all subjects. They are
professional agitators, and they revel in all forms of an
archy. In recent years many Of them have been describ.
ed as pro-Germans. In most cases the designation is in,
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they may be, and. because they happen to be residents
OF the United States. they are against the government
of the United States In any other country they would
be equally the enemies Of its established institutions.
These men have studiously sought to involve the
members of the Nonpartisan league. and the farmers of
the Northwest generally, in their own disloyalty. Ihey
have sought to create tho impression that when they
were making seditious speeches they were rejecting the
sentiments Of the farmers; and. when charged with dis
loyalty, they have attempted no defense on their own uc-
count, but have retorted that the farmers were loyal,
when no one had suggested anything to the contrary.
And, In a measure. they have attained their object in so
Tar as the creation of Impressions in the minds Of out
sidera is concerned. They have not convinced those out
siders that they. themselves. are loyal, but in the minds
of many they have created the belief that the farmers
are disloyal. and that farmers and professional axitator.
are all tarred with the same stick.
Today's primary will not lie a test Of the loyalty OF
North Dakota. It will. however, indicate whether or not
the. people Of the state. and especially the farmers. have
yet reached a true conception Of the character Of the
men who have been successful in obtaining the accept
ance Of their leadership by q large number Of our people.
II all the voters Of the state had reached a full un-
derstandins Of the exact status Of Mr.. Townley and his
conspicuous co-workers in relation to the questions Of
Patriotism. and Of the exact manner in which the gov
eminent OF the stats as at present constituted Is domi-
mated by Mr.. Townley, Governor Frazier would not re-
ceive enough votes to- do much more than carry some
small village precinct The people Of the state are loyal,
and they win not vote for any man. no matter on what
platform he runs. or what economic policies he proposes,
II they are convinced that he Is disloyai. and that his in
'fluence tends to promote disloyaity.
The voting today will show. not whether or not our
people are loyal but whether or pot they have reached
= sufficiently clear understanding OF the actual facts to
pas correctly on the loyalty Of Mr.. Townley and those