The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-06-28
SOME ELECTION AFTERMATH.


For little while on Wednesday night,
some Of us experienced the thrill Of being
an election winner, although it was not I'M
mixed with a rather haunting recollection
of how they kept on voting in the country
precincts two years ago.
History repeated itself and once more
the heart breaking shrinkage of the early
majority had to be watched. 1t was like
watching at the bedside Of dying child,
and it was not until Thursday afternoon
that we regretfully turned away, pulled
the bed clothes over the infants face, and
decided it was all over.
1t was a very promising, lovely infant
while it lived, and it's passing leaves many
sincere mourners for most Of us had our
hearts in the campaign, whatever our sue
cessful opponents may say to the contrary.
I The cause of the demise is not yet fully
known. When the returns are all in Off
Gially, we may hold post mortem on the
remains and try to discover the reason for
the lingering illness eliminating in the
final taking off.
From the canvass to date it appears that
Governor Frazier received a slightly larger
vote than he was given two years ago,
while Mr.. Steen drew about the same vote
as the combined opposition two years ago.
The returns show a certain amount Of
shifting in strength, but despite this inter
nal working" in the vote, there was evil
dence that the "We1l stick" cry was
compelling one. The farmers who belong
to the league stuck" and they won or lost
as we view it, for they have less hope Of
controlling their own organization than
ever.
Nor is there any suggestion that the ma
jority of Governor Frazier could be over
come "by an honest count" as Mr.. Town
ley thought could be done with Governor
Burnquist' s $4,000 in Minnesota. The cleo
ton was clearly conducted, so far as The
Forum has been able to learn. The pres
ence Of campaign cards in many of the
booths may be easily explained by the fact
that voters took them there as a guide,
and left them there after voting. Both sides
''voted straight" as a general rule, and
many were unfamiliar with the names be-
low the first two or three places on the
ticket, so they took the cards with them as
a reminder. Moreover, about as many
Nonpartisan cards as loyalist cards were to
be found.
In view of the clean sweep made by the
league, perhaps The Forum may be. per-
mitted to find what comfort it may in the
Cass county results. It is balm to a
wounded, but not downcast SOUL to find
that despite the presence Of league head
quarters, two league newspapers, league
bank, numerous league organizers and
other league enterprises in Fargo, the
league leaders could not muster more than
40 votes in The Forum s bailiwick, while
Cass county went two to one for John
Steen. We have always felt, despite Who'll
ly favorable monthly reports from the cir
culation department, that several hundred
thousand more people in North Dakota
should be reading The Forum, and viewing
the returns from Fargo, Cass county and
the other nearby counties and comparing
them with other counties, we are more
Convinced Of it than ever.
And, by the way, there are some loose
ends Of a War Savings Stamp campaign
that must be cleaned up this week.
j$f@q - ~