Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-07-11
THE REFERENDUM VOTE

ClSiOu MI ~ N
THE REFERENDUM VOTE
An analysis Of the vote cast in the recent referen.
dunn election reveals some interesting facts.
A few precincts are missing from the statement OF
results, and these will not be available, but the total vote
thus unaccounted for will amount to only a few hundred.
and will not effect the general result Seven measures
were voted on. and in most cases there have been report
ed by counties only the figures on the first Of these, the
so-called newspaper bill, but it has been noted that all
over the state the vote was remarkably uniform, nearly
all Of the voters having voted a straight ticket for or
against the entire list of bills. From such information al
is at hand it appears that more persons voted yes or no
on the first bill on the ballot and left the rest blank than
voted yes on part Of the measures and no on the others.
This may be accounted for on the theory that some vot-
es were under the impression that a cross on the first
square carried with it a similar vote all down the list.
These fluctuations are negligible, however, and to all In
tents the vote was a straight vote all over the state.
One conclusion that must be reached is that the vot-
es generally felt that they were approving or disapprov-
ing a general policy rather than expressing Judgment on
specific measures. This was in accord especially with the
campaign made by the Townley forces in support of the
bills. Consideration Of the bills separately on their mer-
its was discouraged. The test which was sought to be
applied was that Of loyalty to the Nonpartisan league,
and support Of the whole league program" Regardless
Of the fact that several Of the bills, such as tho newspa-
per bill, the educational bill. and the one man
tax commission bill, had never 4 been advocated
in the league papers or at league satherinss,
or discussed in any public way before the meeting
of the legislature at which they were passed, support of
all of these bills was urged on. the plea that they were
league measures and parts Of the league program. The
appeal therefore, was very largely to organization solid
arity. and the instinct Of pride in the standing Of the or
eanization to which one belongs was undoubtedly a potent
factor at the polls.
With the slight additions re, to- be made on account
of missing precincts there were cast in the referendum
election 1o4.es2 votes. Of which $3.50 were Eyes. (" and
4s.113 were no"
In the fall election of 1918, s1.25z votes were cart
for governor. OF these, 54.517 were for Frazier, league
candidate, and se,775 for Doyle, independent. On a to-
tai vote nearly IL per cent greater the Townley majority
has been reduced from 1882 to s.45s. OF the 1890
additional votes over the last election the Townley sup
porters cast 1,o52 and the Independents 1915.
The shrinkage in the percentage of the Townley vote.
while marked by some fluctuations, was general through
out the state. The six counties in the Red River Valley
oil gave majorities against the referred bills. but in the
western section Stark. Golden Valley. Morton and Bur-
leigh gave increased majorities against the Tovnlev mol
ICY, or changed favorable majorities into minorities.
In most of the counties there was a falling off in thu
proportion of Townley votes. In scarcely any case. we're
there increases. 1t Is quite significant, too, that such
Iownley gains AZ were scored were in sections Of the state
which have suffered from a succession Of crop failures,
and where the crop prospects this year are decidedly un-
favorable. 1t 10 easy to understand that in the restricted
localities where this condition prevails, the sentiment
anything for q change" would be ant to have . Strong
appeal.
The bills referred have received a ma+or,tv =, ~.
votes cast. They take effect, and in fact mr.. nov IN m.
GRAFTON. Those who opposed them az unviae N ,h.n-
selves. who have sensed the dangers in the d,c4.to,,hi,
under which the state has passed, and who h.v. felt
strongly the importance Of checking the advance If so.
cialism. with all its malignant manifestations hav. M.
succeeded in marshalng a majority at the no,,s. Nev.r.
theless, they have every reason for encouraeemer. In
a contest against perhaps the most compact and n.n..s
able political organization eyer created, thew h.v. ,.drc.a
the majority Of that organization almost to the vanish.
ing point. They have demonstrated that tn. hold q,
Townley on the state is weakening. Election. ~4u \.
held again next year. In the meantime .there viii h. m.
portunity for a practical demonstration Of the nu.lmia.
OF the laws to which they have interposed ob,ectiona
ana that test. they are confident will estahlish the .ound
ness OF their contentious. By the first Of next March
taxes must be paid again. and the man who then com.
pAres his tax receipt with the receipts Of former xatr.
VIII have opportunity to compare the cost Of government,
under ths new system with that under the old. and "a
consider what he V getting for the difference
u9nless all signs fah. NTownIeyism in North Dakot,
cannot Withstand the enlishtenment which viii com. "a
its present followers within the next twelve months.
ase than has b been fan apples. and are onsrins SO to So
In the county. Dig per ton. based on variety.
lbout July 26 and GAE#$%%E -%aR84&&s