The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-07-15

The Important Lesson Of the Primary
Election
Jamestown Sun)

There apparently is serious danger of q wrong
Interpretation being taken Of the results Of the
North Dakota preferential primary election Cf juno
80. Gerald P. Nye, Nonpartisan League endorsee
for the United States senate, and A. G. Sorlie,
the present governor, were nominated by large
majorites Their vote, however, should not be con-
sidered an endorsement Of the Nonpartisan League
industrial program, protest against the partcipa-
ticn Of the United States in the World Court. nor
IS showing resentment toward congress for the
lack Of action on farm relief legislation. It was,
rather, revolt against Fargo and Red River valley
domination Of North Dakota politics. The voters Of
North Dakota have an almost unholy fear Of any
thing that smacks Of the old Mckenzie Nc umber
machine and the sooner the Independents Of North
Dakota face this fact the better will be for them
and for the entire state.
The election Of Nye to the short term in the SEN
ate, his nomination the Republican ballot for the
long term and the nomination Of Governor Sorlie
was not an endorsement Of the Nonpartsan League
industrial program This is clearly shown in the
nomination Of Attorney General Shafer by an even
larger majority than that of either Sorlie or Nye.
and also In the nomination Of Kitchen and Steen.
Shafer was largely responsible for the adoption Of
the anti-state industry plank in the Independent
platform. He was clearly the idol Of the Devils
Lake convention and the target for the most bitter
attacks OF the League campaign. He was held up
as the personification Of the erciless opposition
to the state industrial program and especially Of the
state mill at Grand Forks and the Bank Of North
Dakota. And yet he received the biggest majority
of any candidate, his majority being practically
twice that of Senator Nye. Steen and Kitchen also
campagned on the Devils Lake platform Of selling
or leasing the state mill and elevator and curtailing
the operations of the Bank Of North Dakota. Can
their majorties be construed as an Endorsement Of
the league industrial program?
This thing is shown in the election Of ma
jority in both the state hoase a tha state senate
The senate majority, if the Independents repeat in
the fall election; will BE increased by one and the
Nonpartisan League control of'the house Of repre-
sentatives changed to Independent control with
majority Of six or eight members. All Of these In.
dependents stood firmly on the platform Of discon
tinuing state operation of the mill and elevator and
limiting the operations of the Bank Of North Da.
kota to its farm loan department IL there any pos
sible way that this can be taken o. . vindicatiod
Of the original League ihdustrial program?
The failure Of congress- to enact farm aid legisla
ton satisfactory to the northwestern states uh.
doubtedy had some influence on the vote, bat com
paratively little. The World Court issue had n.
influence at all. This is shown by the over~helm
ing majorities rolled up by Congressman Burtnes'
in the first district and by Congressman Hall in thu
second district. True the World Court was not a
issue In the house Of Representatives ct the fecen
session, but both Hall and Dsrttess are known o
strong supporters Of the Coolidge Administration.
II then the victories 81 Nye and Sofaie c4nnot b
construed as an endorsement 6f the League Indus
trial program, nor as Q protest against Uatts'
States participation in the World Court, nor as
reprimand Tor the lack o 3atisfsct0fy action on-t
part Of congress in the MISTER bf 4atm lid lseis'a
ton, we must return to eur pFevieus assestion taa
it was revolt against Fased Red &c
Hensie- cCumber control q North Dakota politics
Ana when we ssy sFark6- nd River -o6httsis .rea
not mean the younger, more progressive group iron
| that territory. Hundreds and thopsands q M
4 latter class have already aeeeod 49, -, and TIM
is no sense in longer ab1emptine tbi6nore or COZ
eel the fact that the voters Of North Dakota q
EAsai6li1 suspisisss y anyfhine ~ 49, yeG6el
hints a The old machine Of The famous Aaes.