Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-07-06
CONTRASTING VIEWS,

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CONTRASTING VIEWS.
~ has beens mentioned several times, eastern
papers md It Aitficult8 to estimate the result Of the
North Dakota Urinary correctly. Most of them at
tribute It to causes which, While~thcy may have ex-
all, and they almost invariably disregard the things
which really did govern. Is
Duluth, Minnesota, i lnear enough to North
Dakota to lead one to expect a clearer Judgment on
the part Of the political observers in that city. But
in the Duluth Herald, decidedly one of the ablest
misinterpfetation Of the North Dakota senatorial
contest: @
"EveSypossible effort was put forth to renomin-'
ate McCumber. The voters Of North Dakota were
reminded day in and day out of the powerful posi-
ton he holds as chairman Of the senate finance COM
mittee. the committee that makes the tariff law and
that is making one very hattering. to the hopes Of
the farmers; and North Dakota is a farming state.
But North Dakota, largely disregarding these
arguments, seems to have seen Mr.. McCumber> as a
,reactionary and to have chosen Mr.. Frazier over
hin, because Frazier is distinctly not a reactionary.
lie is as far from it as the junior senator from North
Dakota, MIR. Ladd." I
THAT the Duluth Herald's analysis is utterly
wrong is apparent to every intelligent North Dako-
ia reader. On the other hand, another Duluth
paper, the News Tribune, a Republican, paper, BY
the way, sizes up the situation in a manner which
indicates its thorough familiarity with the facts, and
its complete understanding of them. The News
Tribune says:
There is nothing progressively Republican
about Frazier, Nonparttsan League nominee for the
United States Senate, for the seat now held by Por-
ter James McCumber. Frazier is a Socialist and if
the state OF North Dakota is stupid enough to elect
him it may be assured that for six years he will sup
port every wild-eyed piece Of legislation that comes
before congress. He is a destructionist. as the
record OF his tenure in the capitol at Bismarck as
r1x,nP%.~r o1o~-1,, .1-,-, ~ A1-~-A 49, ~ 90
of North Dakota would be preferable to Frazier for
senator. He is not within forty miles of Senator
Ladd's class.
1T will not be surprising if there is talk of run
nlng McCumber as an independent Such "a
move would almost certainly help Frazier. About
the only way out to beat Frazier is to perfect a fu-
sion Of Democrats and anti-Nonpartian League Re
publicans. Even this kind Of a candidacy will have
hard shedding, for Frazier has captured the c. O. P.
livery and it is of inestimable value. ~
I'm some states, Republican nomination is prae-
tically equivalent TO election likewise, in some
states Democratic nomination is practically equiva-
lent to election Frazier and his crowd are not
blind to the advantage that has been gained by cap
turing the Regular Republican nomination. Of
course, Frazier is no more a Republican than is
Arthur Iownley. If he had been running in Mis-
sissippi he would have gone after the Democratic
nomination. Ii he had been running in. Moscow, he
would have been figured in this country as a Boil
shevk. His record as governor was SO miserable
that he was not permitted to serve out his term. AS
a senator, he would be a spectacle, Judging from
what he was as an executive.
North Dakota was reminded that it's senior
senator IS chairman Of the finance committee. and
It should feel enough pride in this honor to give the
,Wahpcton man a fifth term. This argument BY the
McCumber camp was very fair material. but
against it was the recollection of thousands of Regu-
lar Republicans that when they were under The heel
of the Socialist crew led by Townley, Frazier, Mills,
ct al, the senior senator raised not a hand to help
them. Indeed, his, warmest admirer would not
make a claim that newer did anything in all the
time that the Nonpartisan League dominated the
state government to show that he was cat Of SYM
pathy with that wreckirg organization. Porter
James McCumber was at pains to travel the middle
of the road. He did not fool anybody. These citi-
zens OF North Dakota who were aware nf Ms aloof-
ness counseled only with themselves, declaring that
their time would come to teach the. senior senator
that~a time comes in the career Of almost cyery
leader when Me must stand IN and be counted
McCumber always lodged the tand-up-anN-co count
ing.
I'm other words, he sat in his seat in Washing
ton and let one-time friends do all the battling. re
pr'ded himself on attending strictly to, his own
business" But, the plight Of North Dakota was
just as much his business as was the correspondence
of his office in Washington. Not a bit Of red blood
did the senior senator show in the struggles Of the
people against the miserable government admins
tered under Frazier. His defeat is to be regarded
chiefy because such a man as Frazier is the victor.
but If the campaigns outcome is to be Judged on
the basis OF political and civic Justice. Porter lanes
McCumbertdeserve the loss of his high place in the
councils of the nation" g.. 49,
BECOMING NORMAL.
The political temperature of North Dakota.
which indicated feverish conditions in 1916, has
been .%subsiding ever since, and may be said now Is
have reached a fairly normal stage. In 1916 the
|Nonpartisan league candidate for governor was
given a majority Of $4,000. In 1918 that majority
had dropped to $1,000. In 1920 the majority had
|dwindled to less than 5000. In the recall election
OF 192l!it had disappeared altogether and forzitthere
was substituted an Independent majority Of close Is
1000. IN the primary election Of 1922 the Indepen-