Evening star., 1924-03-20
PRIMARY REVEALS
RADICAL LOSSES
Coolidge Victory in North
Dakota Shows New Trend in
Coming Election.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

President Coolidge's victory in
North Dakota has had an impressive
effect on the campaign of the Chief
Executive. Winning primary in the
hotbed of radicalism, receiving a
plurality as against Senator La Fol-
lette and Senator Hiram johnson,
convinces the Coolidge managers that
whatever may be the trend of politics
in other western states, the President
has better than an even chance to
achieve the nomination with the
backing of the so-called radical states.
The North Dakota situation has
weeks because it has a double signifi-
canoe. Mr.. Coolidge's prestige was
at stake, of course, but something
even more far-reaching than that was
involved in the North Dakota vote.
It is the recent tendency. of North
Dakota to get back into the regular
republican column and forsake the
nom partisan league. The fight
against the league has been waged
with increasing success in the last
two years and the victory of Mr..
which the regulars have made inroads
upon their opponents.
Might Swing Election.
Should the forthcoming election be
thrown into the House OF Representa-
tives for decision, which would hap
pen II no candidate received major
ity of the electoral votes. North Da-
kota's vote would be of vital impor-
tance and might even swing the elec-
EN0a tn %hn
publican votes that would be cast by
state delegations would be twenty
two, as opposed to twenty-one demo-
cratic votes, and five are tied. One
states vote would make a great deal
of difference, especially since the bal
lots of Minnesota and Wisconsin
might be cast for La Toilette. North
Dakota has been counted by some as
doubtful, but both Representatives
are regular. and since there are three
representatives from North Dakota,
the vote would be cast for Coolidge.
There has been talk of a resignation
by Representative Young to accept an
appointment by the President as
member. of the board of appraisers in
New York, and if he resigned there
would have to be a special election.
Result Encouraging.
Friends of the President have not
been sure that a special election
would result in their favor, but the
result of the primary has been en-
couraging. Whether the change will
be made is uncertain at this date, but
the North Dakota primary may have
a bearing on the decision of Repre-
sentative Young whether or not to
resign.
The La Toilette vote in North Da-
kota is significant. He made no cam
paign. His name was not on the bal
lot and he had to be voted for with
stickers. His strength Is, therefore
hardly indicated by the vote in the
primaries. Farm legislation, of course
will have much to do with the La
Toilette campaign, and an effort to
to the farmer might meet with bet
ter response than 1t did few days
ago when the issues were not clear
cut.
Farm background Helps.
A candidate from New England is
not expected to show strength in the
west, but Mr.. CooIidge's farmer back
ground is undoubtedly helping him.
His triumph in North and South Da-
kota is counted as a good beginning
by his managers.
The North Dakota democrats voted
solidly for McAdoo, although there is
a factional. fight in that state. The
Georgia result, in which, McAdoo won
over Underwood, will be made the
basis for further excursions by the
former Secretary of the Treasury to
snuthern territory McAdoO was born
in the south, so his friends are using
that as an offset to the Underwood
argument. The fight between
these two able citizens is really a
contest between radical and conserva-
tive groups, with McAdoo winning the
support OF the former and Underwood
the latter.