The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-03-16
Next November Election Is
Only Around the Corner
for Politicians
SOUTH DAKOTA WILL
HOLD FIRST PRIMARY
Six Primaries on Schedule for
June, Including That of
Minnesota June 20
BY Lawrence Martin
(I1nited Press Staff Correspondent)

Washington, March 16. - The
"fence members" are getting busy.
So, also, are their enemies, the fence
busters"
Which is just another way of say
ing that the congressional campaign
of 1922 is on. To the ordinary Amer
lean whose interest in elections Is US
ually confined to voting, it seems a
long time until November, 1922. To
large number of Americans who
consider themselves just a bit better
than ordinary, next November seems
to be Just around the corner, and
they are getting ready to turn the
corner.
The reason is that before you can
get yourself elected to the $500
salary that attaches to a congress-
man or senator, you have to get your
party, in congressional district or
state, to put its o. K. on you. This
is done at party convention, or, as in
most states nowadays, at primary
election. Which is why those who
aspire to hold to the $500 annually
they are now drawing and those who
aspire to get on that payroll, as new
hands, are now engaged in the gentle
pastimes of fence busting and fence
mending.
You always bust the other fellows
fences and always mend your own.
TO do a really effective job either
way, you have to start while this WIN
ter's frost is on the coal pile though
you won't get final results until next
falls frost is on the pumpkin. The
way to do is to start in about the
time the women begin trotting out
their spring hats, and either by bust
ing somebody else's fence or mend
ing your own, make it certain that
you will get the party nomination
fenced in, coralled, and tied to a
stake in your own back yard.
They start holding primaries in
March and from then on until late in
September, the nominating goes on.
This is one of the most trying and
most practical" periods in the politi
cal year. If you are in congress,
somebody in your own party is al
most sure to want to get you out,
and the entire personnel Of the OPP
posing party is determined to eject
you. If you are out of congress
wanting to in, the fellow who has the
particular $500 you covet is going
to do his best to keep you from COL
lccting. With this explanation, any
body should be able to understand
the Importance of the primary.
The first primary this year will be
March %, in South Dakota. Three
candidates for the house will be NOM
mated. The next is April II, in ILL
nois for nomination of house MEM
bers. On May 2, comes the first
senatorial primary in Indiana, where
Senator Harry New and Albert j..
Beverage will see whose fence is
better. Oregon will select candidates
on May 10. On the 18th of that
month, Pennsylvania, besides nomin-
ating house delegation, will select
candidates on both tickets to sue
coed the late Boies Penrose and SEN
ator William f. Grow. Crow was ap-
pointed to fill the vacancy Senator
Knox's death caused, and his health
may not permit him to run again.
The Penrose place will be sought by
George Wharton Pepper, now filling
the seat by appointment.
There are six primaries in June
Iowa on the 9Th; Florida, with Scna-
Continued on Page 81