Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-05-11

against him, and not against his predecessor. If
the attorney general can show that they are UNI
founded the country will be satisfied. If he cannot,
no reference to the delinquencies Of former officials
will help matters in the least.
THE DEMOCRATIC LEAGUE TICKET.
Under the plea that their action is inspired by
a desire to maintain the Democratic organization
intact, and in Reputation of the decision Of party
committee and party convention to cooperate with
members of the Republican party on issues not re-
lated to national politics, certain irreconciliables
within the Democratic camp are presenting candi-
dates for the party nominations at the primary in
opposition to the candidates endorsed by the lanes
town convention. alts
The voting OF q straight party ticket all down
the line has always been a most unusual thing. A.
few individuals here and there may have followed
this course, but as a rule voters. have felt at liberty,
while supporting the candidates of their party who
sought offices in which party principles were in
volved, to use their own discretion concerning those
offices which were related to local rather than to
party issues.
The organization Of the Nonpartisan League
for the first time placed in the field a large, we'll
organized and compact body of voters who declared
their freedom from political party ties and frankly
addressed themselves to the election of candidates,
regardless OF party, who were committed to the pol
icies which they approved. Refusing steadfastly
to accept for their organization the official status
of a political party, these voters have always an
nounced their intention to disregard political affilia-
tons in selecting the candidates whom they would
support.
The existence of a large body of voters whose
support could be shifted at will from one party to the
other presented a problem for the regular political
organizations. The leaguers, aided by others who
were chary Of declaring themselves leaguers, sue
cessfully resisted the efforts which were made to
meet this situation by eliminating all party divisions
IN state and local campaigns. Under the law there
must be held primary elections at which party can
didates maybe voted for, and. failing opposition, a
mere handful Of votes will secure to any candidate
the official endorsement of his party and make him
the official party candidate in the general election.
In order that persons having like opinions and
like desires may work together for the purposes on
which they are agreed, individuals in large numbers
have transferred their formal party affiliation. In
the present situation independent Democrats and
independent Republicans have sought to cooperate
in a movement to retain Governor Nestos in his
present position, and to elect with him other Off
Gals who will support him in carrying out the pro-
gram authorized and approved at the recall election
last fall. The league opposition to this program be-
ing devoted chiefly to an effort to elect former Gov
ernor Frazier to the senate, as we'll as to elect state
candidates in sympathy with the now discredited
sary, in order to bring about the unity of action de-
sired, for numerous Democrats to file for the pur-
poses of this campaign as Republicans.
The movement in which Mr.. Hellstrom and his
associates are engaged is intended to Illustrate this.
1t is hoped to create such a contest within the
Democratic party that in order to insure the success
at the primary Of Democratic candidates who are
willing to aid in the independent movement, Demo
cratic voters who had expected to enter the primary
as Republicans, for the time being, will feel it nee
essary to retain their formal party status and vote
for the independent Democratic candidates. This,
of course, is expected to withdraw from the indie
pendent Republican ticket all Democratic support,
and thereby to improve the chances of the league
candidates.
Just how this will operate remains to be seen.
In the meantime there need be no misunderstanding
of the purpose. In that group Of alleged Democrats
who are now shouting for the maintenance of
Democratic ideals and the preservation of Demo-
cratic integrity there are men whose influence with
in the party and the state has from time immemorial
been destructive, who, often under the cloak of
Democratic allegiance, have co-operated with social
ism in all the forms in which it has been. presented,
and who, while loud in their profession of party
loyalty, have not ~hesitated to knife the candidates Of
their own party when those candidates refused to
contribute to the success of their own ambitious de-
signs. Their unmistakable purpose now is TOT REIN
state socialism in North Dakota.
TEIE II0NSs TT TN