The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-07-23

Are the very mountains shaking? That question by
character in one Of Schlers plays would have to be
answered in the United States today, politically speak
ing in the affirmative Also the prairies quiverng,
the cornelds Of Iowa sharing in the commissions which
If read only the dispatches telling Of con-
ventions and committees planning angry revolts and
passing resolutions against their leaders in their
own parties he might think that the fountains of the
great deep were broken and that spirit of revolu
ton was abroad which would throw the Presidential
heavas as reported or threatened are SO fantastic as
to seem not only incredible but too comic for political
never vote for Governor Smith, but cheek by ow with
them are Texas Republicans who give it to be under
tba ev cannot nodve own ana
heroic band of constitutional Democrats in Texas who
propose to run an independent ticket, with Hoover
this can be reconced with the nomination Of Presden-
tia electors, required by law since the Hoover
ayers have already refused to have his any
ballot Of that kind That particular revolt therefore,
pended, as the military phrase is, "in the air"
Representatives of one does not know how many farm
ers in how many states meet in Iowa to affirm that the
Republican Party has betrayed them, and that the
Democratic platform to satisfying the po
ltical demands of the Middle West There appears to
be no open endorsement Of Governor Smith, but there
explicit and bitter condemnation Of President Cool
dge and Secretary Hoover In order to meet the
pcion that this gathering might hav. been only DEM
oeratic trck the delegates had themselves poed re-
way proved that they had until been overwhelm-
ingly Republican
interpretations of this new farm movement. vary ac-
cordng to the politics Of the observer Republicans
aver that these i'll Iowa do not represent anybody
in particular and that in their conferences and fumn-
tions the Republican Party sees nothing whatever to
fear Naturally to the ygilant eyes of Democrats the
Iowa landscape looks different very if it had
been thrown out Of perspective by political earth
quake Some enthusiastic writer's speak 9 the prairies
being at last set fire. If the actual dirt farmers
were not just now busy il getting in their crops,
might be able to decide whether the whole thing is 81
gantic confagration merely the burning Of few
casual brush heaps
No doubt, what we are seeing is something almost
without precedent in American politics. There have
been issues like slavery free silver coinage, which
split parties wide open and made the sheep vsbly
arate from the goats But the effect Of prohibition
thrust into this campaign is rather regional
sectional than national. It Is kind Of subtle disnte-
grafton working in both parties after fashion very
hard TO predict or measure. While it may not mean
anything like breakup reagnment Of the old par
ties Immediately after the election it does clearly
foreshadow an immense amount OF voting party
lines in manner to confould the election prophets and
cause the party managers to grow pale with uncer-
tainty. The effect may in sense be called political
revolt But it is likely to be very quiet one, carried
have m.ds up their minds to disregard old party labels
and party cries and be- ct least for this election their
own sovereign and detstors when they vote. -