Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-07-17
mr.. TOWNLEY'S LEAGUE

LIE 4Ol o u ne CuO dCc
rally change the impressions which the earlier reports
created. There is no change in the main fact, that North
Dakota has undertaken the experiment Of state Social
go far. about her performances; it is straightaway Social
Ism Of the old-fashioned kind, whatever the leaders OF
the Nonpartisan league may have in the back of their
minds for the future. That being the case, other states
will watch with interest the working out Of the experi7
ment.
But 1t may not have a chance to work out in full
That Is what the later reports develop. Already North
Dakota seems to be losing its early faith in Socialism and
the Nonpartisan league. and If the leagues vote continues
to drop away It the same rate at which 1T has been drop
ping. the next election will see . return to old-fashioned
in which case the Socialistic program will
be abandoned very quickly. 1t was thought at first that
the falling OF in the leagues matorities was due to the
notorious fact that referendum elections never poll as
many votes as elections of candidates; and that, though
the leagues majority of over II, o0o last November was
cut to less than 1000 in this referendum, that fact might
be explained by the other fact that no candidates were
running and that the election was a sumner one.
1t now seems. however, that this was not the case.
Contrary to all rules and precedents. more votes were
cast in this summer referendum than In the regular cleo
ton Of candidates in the time -honored and accustomed
month Of November. The league could not have had a
fa1rer chance to test its present strength. Nearly 5000
more votes were recorded at this referendum than were
cast for the state tickets last fall. The leagues majority
has fallen off from between II 900 and Is, 900 then to
under 5000 now. In fact, on the one measure submitted
to the people on which nearly complete returns have been
received. the leagues majority is 6,4ss. Now. last No.
vember Frazier had 1882 majority over Doyle.
Nor does this tell the whole story. There have been
three elections on this socialistic issue. In the first the
1Nonpartisan league, the Socialist organization, had a
majority Of over $4,000. In the second. as has been
shown here, it fell to less than $4,000. Now. with a
much larger vote out, its measures are approved by a
majority of less than 1000. If that rate of decrease is
maintained, the next election will wipe out the Nouparti-
san league altogether and return the old kind of demo-
cratic government to its own.
1t would be foolish, Of course, to venture any such
cocksure predictions rs this. Many things may happen
between now and the next election. The only thing
which we wish to emphasize is that the Nonpartisan
leagues vote has shown a steady and large fallinx OF
and that the longer tho people vote on the leasue and
its measures the more they become aroused and turn out
at the polls.
Whatever may be the final result, such a showing
is encouraging to American democracy. Those northern
states on the other side of>the Mississippi have been pro-
claimed TO be the first outposts of the coming socialism.
II was from there that Socialism was to descend in tri-
umph and spread slowly or rapidly over the rest Of the
Union. sorth Dakota was to be tho carrier Of tho zgon-
falon- The farmers we're to be the monkeys to pun the
socianstic chestnuts out of the fire.
It may I'll come true. even yet. Strange things hap
pen N these days. and the role Of the prophet has been
cut out OF the east In the great Jmelodrama Of politics.
But thsss election figures and comparisons do not sus-
sesf 70 our minds anything new. sinister, Or revolutionary.
It brings us back To the old days Of the Farmers. Alliance.
tho days Of the Greenback-LAbor party, the DAYS Of the
Grange. Those were not very sensible movements. and
y thsy had succeeded they would not have conferred
Hany or any benefiAs on even their proponents. But
they proved tosbe Only passing movements OF irritation
aincns tas fasrnsrl and after awhile the farmers became
sced-tsmpsred asain ana Al was over. Townlsy. bent
Ecn sociaism. had the shrewdness to try again to utis,ze
ths farmers Though prophecy Is out Of date, il certainly
Eiseks - y ~ 800 shout % meet me same ~. th,t II
his predecessors did. The farmer, Is he appears tn1
|Annsfsean history never star foeltah. Probably that Il
20 tAsss u q st..--sssywI yorx TthanSG $780,