Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-10-23
NOT AN ELECTION ISSUE

gratilcation that the elections soon to be held in
the United States would afford an opportunity to
determine the attitude Of the United States with
reference to the participation Of this country in
the settlement OF economic questions in Europe.
The result of Our coming elections will no more
indicate the attitude Of this country on that ques.
ton than it will indicate the opinion of the country
ION Einstein's theory of relatively. a
The one thing which will be- Shown, in a broad,
national way, is the tendency of the American peo-
pile toward or away from radicalism. Other issues
have been hercely debated in congress There have
been floods of words on the tariff, on the bonus.
and on a numbered other things. But on none
|of these things ~is2#thsre a8clear-cut issue between
the two great partiessand only in isolated instances
DO these issues figure prominently in contests be-
tween rival candidates in the several states and
congressional districts.
There is a vital issue between revolutionary rad
|icalis1n and orderly constitutionalisn1. The lines in
this contest are not drawn between the two great
parties, for the radical candidate will be found
masquerading in the livery Of one party here and of
another there. In North Dakota he poses as a
Republican,; in Minnesota, usually, as a Democrat.
Whatever party label the opponents of revolution
airy principles wear they are found in close CO.
operation, Republicans" in one state supporting
Democrats" in another. and vice versa. Specifcai-
ly, radical candidates on the alleged Republican
ticket IN North Dakota are assisting in the cam
|palgns OF radical Democrats" in South Dakota.
and are being supported in turn by !. Democrats
|o1 the same type IN Minnesota. y
The nomination of Frazier last Tune was inter
|preted throughout the country as a victory for
radicalism in North Dakota. That Interpretation.
though incorrect, was natural. Casual observers at
Ia distance were unfamiliar with local conditions.
and did not understand the issues on which the
primary contest here was waged. They failed to
grasp the fact that in the senatorial contest as it
shaped itself the lines between radicalsand ORDERLY;
progressive were not, and could not be drawn.
They were drawn, very clearly and distinctly, in
the contest over the nomination for governor, and
IN that contest the progressive forces won a sweep
ing victory. 10.
In this campaign the situation is quite difer&nt!
The question which will be determined in thisaelec-
ton is whether the state of North Dakota shall
send to the United States senate Lynn ]. Frazier,
the friend, companion and political bedfellow Of
'Lemke, Townley, Mills, and the entire group Of
revolutionaries who have made this state their
stamping ground, or whether it shall send to rep
resent st ]. +. +. O'Connor, who stands squareiy
for law and constitutions and for the development
OF the country IL accordance with the principles
the observance OF which has made this nation great.
Here and there an effort is made to becioud this
II will not succeed elsewhere. III that case, no
matter what explanations we may make to each
other, the outstanding fact, lid the minds Of the
people o. ,thes United States, viii BE that North
Dakota has elected another Socialist senator. That
will be the plain, sundeniable fact. may adj
vance innuinerable reasons to explain why we did
81, but the fact that it is done will remain an ever
lasting blot on the reputation Of the state, a dam
age to its standing which not even the reelection
an independent governor will remove.
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