The Bismarck tribune., 1922-04-03
ACTION NOT BINDING


primary law are attempting through one make
T shift or another to secure party action through
recourse to conventions Ignoring primary laws,
calls are being issued, county and state conven-
tions held and the Grand Forks Herald is solemnly
discussing the evils attending and the abuses fol-
lowing the operation of the unit rule.
4 The Forum recently referred to the action OF
the Nonpartisan League as "this matter OF party
discipline" Of course it was merely slip OF
the editorial pen. Party, discipline which the
Forum sighs for has passed into desuetude, in
nocuous or otherwise, under the primary system
imperfect as it is. r
Action taken at Fargo or what may transpire
at jamestown is not binding upon republicans or
democrats or socialists @
At Fargo for instance, the convention frankly
avoided any reference to party labels That was
a meeting to endorse candidates committed to
certain economic policies. It is presumed that
the candidates nominated for office where party
action is concerned will file in the republican
primaries, but the delegates met as representa-
tives of the nonpartisan league not as spokesmen
for the republican party. In that respect at least
the delegates were logical and there was no evi-
dence of party discipline, it was merely the az
ceptance of the decision of the majority of leag-
uers which spurned party control. The league
operates much after the fashion Of a bloc and bids
for support anywhere devoid of party feelings
or scruples. If the Forum had termed it class or
bloc discipline, that would have been nearer the
truth. Republicans surely can draw little inspira-
tion from the league convention for it is this class
or bloc pressure in state affairs that the indie
pendents are trying to eliminate.
The republicans of North Dakota can legally
function as a party only at the polls June %.
Conventions at Fargo, jamestown or elsewhere
are merely group meetings to secure tickets which
reflect the political affiliations Of groups. .>
The electors of the state know what took place
at Fargo. At jamestown, however, there will be
an effort to make it appear that the convention
speaks finally for the republican party of North
Dakota. OF course in the very nature of things,
it is going to be hard to compose all POLITICAL diff
ferences in a convention called by certain fac
: tion of the republican party. The ipsi dixit of
the Real Republican committee cannot tie the
! hands Of the electors Of the state whose powers
of selection cannot be abridged or controlled by
what takes place at Jamestown.
Senator McCunlber is the senior senator in
North Dakota. He has announced his candidacy
on the republican ballot and whether endorsed orI
not at Jamestown, he will make the race, as far
as his friends are informed at least That
much is certain now. 1t is just as unreasonable
to ask McCumber's friends to accept the dictum
of the jamestown convention, as it would be to
ask the supporters of Governor Nestos to accept
the dctum of jamestown if through some DEAL
trade or combination, Mr.. Nestos were tricked
out of. a place on the ticket
Just as unreasonable to ask McCumber to retire
at the dictum of a convention dominated by the
triple aiance-Real Republican committee, Real
Democratic committee and the Committee of
. Forty y-five-as to make the same demand of
Gronna. ....'
Republicans of North Dakota stand only for
fair play. The most powerful agents of the
Jamestown triple alliance convention have sought
to eliminate McCumber and Judge Christianson
from consideration as we'll as A. j. Gronna |
+ Weeks in advance. of this tr-group pow WOW,
there is evident deliberate drive to force
through slate and program by the men who
happen to control the machinery which called the
jamestown convention into being
u AS an agency to formulate state program in |
opposition to the league control, there can be no
criticism Of the jamestown pow wow But to en-
trust to the triple alliance the destnies of the re-
publican party savors too much of the kind of
machine politics that this state is attempting to
free iself from. If the Independents opposed to
league control are more concerned in rdding the
state of socialism than to create political ma
chine, they have an excellent opportunity to show
it at jamestown.
Every man who loves his state wants to get it
back to nornlalcy, There is a great work before I.