The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-03-22
Editorial comment from some Of
the metropolitan newspapers on
North Dakota's primary follows:
FAREWELL TO HIRAM
st. Paul Dispatch }

FAREWELL TO HIRAM
est. Paul Dispatch
On the basis of incomplete returns,
il seems that President Coolidge has
taken the North Dakota primary, with
Senator LaFolictte second and SEN
ator Hiram Johnson third. Some
$4,000 votes have been accounted for,
and possibly 10000 remain 0utstand-
ing Mr.. Coolidge plurality will
doubtless be reduced, perhaps sub
stantially, but it is not likely that
the relative positions of the three
candidates will be changed. The only
important development TO be looked
for is the nsoidation of Mr.. La
Toilette $ position in second place.
IT is conceivable that he may serious
~ threaten Mr.. Coolidge.
The performance of the North Da-
kota Republican electorate is of the
first importance. Because Of the
particular circumstances prevailing
in North Dakota, Tuesday primary
has virtually demolished Senator
Johnson ; candidaturc. Senator John
son has rested his claim to the Re
publican nomination upon consider
atiCns of popularity with the mass
Of voters. He has never contended
that he Is the sort of candidate to
whom the Cleveland convention would
turn Of its own accord. He has con
tended that if the rank and file of
the party were given an opportun-
itV to declare itself, II would force
the convention to nominate him.
Senator Johnson has demanded prim-
aries II Is vital to his candidacy that
wherever he gets primary, he WINS
IT. He has had a primary in North
Dakota. and the loss of that parti-
cular primary should be fatal.
Above all others, Senator Johnson
had Ia take the North Dakota prlm-
AIRY in order to establish the merits
al his claim He has identified him
self with the Republican insurrec-
ton. North Dakota is the center OF
agricultural disaffcction;, it is com
monty considered in political revolt
against regular Republicans But
radical North Dakota has not rallied
10 radical johnson. IL has preferred
conservative Coolidge and radical La
Fonette. Senator Johnson, further
more. has made a special effort TO
win North Dakota He alone Of the
three has campaigned the state. so
much the more significant his repu-
diation AT the hands Of North Dako-
tn
Nor can Senator Johnson protest
that the introduction of Senator La
Toilette into the primary nuilitled
the Significance OF his own defeat.
Senator Johnson's contention was not
that he is merely more popular than
President Coolidge with the mass. but
that he is the most popular of all
candidates. That contention has been
nut to the test in North Dakota, and
it is found false. Both Coolidge and
LaFollette have proved more popular.
If Senator Johnson can not carry
North Dakota, how can he convince
the Cleveland convention that he
could carry Pennsylvania, New York,
the conservative East?
IL must be admitted that the
strength shown by Mr.. Coolidge in
radical North Dakota is an astonish-
ing phenomenon. 1t tcstifies to his
strength 1t must lead to the con-
clusion that the country does not
hold him in any way responsible for
Secretary Falls delinquency, for
Secretary DENLY and the Attorney
General. He has not been damaged
by the oil scandal. Above all it
seems to prove that the farmer has
been impressed by the President
treatment of the agricultural situa
ton, and has confidence in him fo4'
the future.
Senator LaFollette name did not
appear on the ballot. He expressly
requested that it be withdrawn, and,
though his managers attempted new
ertheless to keep it there, Il court
ruling was obtained by Senator John
sons men against the presentation
of his name. On Il Sticker vote, his
showing is even more impressive
than that of President Coolidge. 1t
would be rash to conclude from
Tuesday vote that the pendulum
has begun its backward swing in the
radical West. 1t is interesting, how
ever, as exhibiting an unexpected
strength on the part of the President
in locality in which he was not
believed to be strong.