South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-07-01
JULY 1922
NORTH DAKOTA SPEAKS.

Particularly bitter and most significant are the
returns from the primaries in North Dakota where
the Old Guard vine the present administration.
suffered something worse than defeat.
Senator SfcCumber for nearly quarter OF a
century a member OF the Old Guard and inner cir
Gle defeated IN the Republican primary by the
advocate OF socallstic doctrines OF economies And
with defeat The grip OF the old Guard gov
eminent Is weakened and its control Of laws Is
Jeopardized.
The most effective weapon IN the hands OF these
shrevvd rnanipulators governments has been the
seniority rule IN the senate, by which the chairman
ship committees goes TO the man longest in ser
vice on the committee.
It has worked ma gZihcenty for the benefit Of the
privileged interests in the past for by simply plant
ing one OF their members at the head Of each i'm
portant committee, the entire slant OF law making
could be effectively directed
Il so happens that MeCumber succeeded to the
place held by Penrose at the head OF the finance
committee. This important body, for it drafts
and revses and fixes the tariff and tax laws
McCumBer was what might be called a reasonable
man. He listened that Is to the leaders Of his party
and vas not thoroughly in sympathy with western
ideas 70 be hated
Second in lire now stands Bob La Toilette, that
fighter who has always Kept his standing in the
publican party by voting the ticket and generally
dominating the Politics OF his state. But his
thoughts ideas and his purposes are az opposed
to those OF the best minds" can be imagined.
la Toilette has shown such radicalism to often4
invite the party chiefs read him OF their
party. but they did not dare. for there a time
when they needed La Toilette to organize the senate
and these republican chiefs then used his vote to
defeat the League of Nations
La Follette stands for huge inheritance taxes, a
thing which the hackers Of the old Guard shudder
20 contemplate.
He stands for huge profits taxes. favoring. indeed
laws which would limit profits 10 very small
eentage.
He stands for railway legislation that would
amount to government ownership. His attitude to-
wards the tariff has been based on the theory that
tariffs paid by the consumer and ne stands for
the
That was the shadow which darkened the polti-
skies every force Of federal power into
the state Of North Dakota keep McCumber
the job
His opponent had the Non-Partisan League be-
hind him and recalled by popular vote than
year ago In that record was little to commend.
He came repudiated official fired by the people,
70 oppose the man who had behind him this fed
eral power.
It might that practically his only common
dation was the character Of his enemies his
personal achievements had led only 10 disgrace.
And vet this discredited public official has SEEM
ingly won and won by votes Of farmers who year
ago voted to Gust him in disgrace from the gov
ernorship.
It is time for another meeting Of those 'best
minds" at Washington for there is something loose
when such a defeat Is administered in such a
manner
II might seem 10 indicate that the people
tired OF the present administration tired tariff
tinkering. tired OF its policy OF inaction tired OF
the political control and juggery OF public offices
And II the voter wants liberal education
just how far party leaders believe in their own so-
gan OF stand by the party, watch Wisconsin,
where the defeat OF McCumber VIII be the signal
for bittsrest sort Of fight by his fellow par
tisans TO keep that regular year-in and year-out
republican, Bob In Toilette from coming back.