The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-03-26


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Official CITY, state and County Newspaper
The Presidential Primary
Editorializing in advance of definite primary
results is always highly dangerous Where
political factions are so bitterly divided as in
North Dakota, the primary is a good safety
valve, probably the only orderly way to blow
off the political exhaust steam-and then
what are few paltry dollars where the liber-
ties Of "dear peepul' are concerned?
AS presidential primaries go, the vote cast
last Tuesday was not entirely indifferent-in
fact, in some instances, the electorate was dis
eliminating. There were city elections, bond
issues to be passed upon, township squabbles
to be settled and what-not. When all the bal
lots are counted, it is probable that some 1OO.-
600 North Dakota voters marched to the polls
as against some 1878 four years ago and as
against 1925 votes cast at the June prl-
maries for governor two years ago. In view Of
the fact that there was very gentlemanlv
contest on for national committeeman among
the Republicans and Democrats, and no con-
test as far as the ballot was concerned for the
presidential preference, the vote polled Tues
day is not to be dismissed with gesture nor
the primary roundly condemned by the polt-
ical bosses as subversive Of representative
party government. The Republicans of the
state, whether labeled real" "reeling," League
or Independent, got their innings and elected
their favorites. It may not have been the kind
Of primary that the real Republicans" antic-
ipated, but, anyway, the results reflect fairly
well party sentiment. It is hard to define a
Republican these lays, there are so many va
rieties of the species. There are regulars, pro-
gressives, vets, drys, and what-not in Repub-
lican and Democratic parties. North Dakota's
presidential primary probably registered as
fair consensus of political opinion as is pos
sible and until Republicans can be shooed onto
one platform or crowded on the same band
! wagon, the primary will have to function in
: North Dakota, despite its imperfections; de-
] spite the fraility of man; despite the acumen
] and disappointment Of the political bosses and
! their henchmen.
The preference feature of North Dakota's
presidential primary law is pure hokum Pol
iticians wrote the law and it is as flexible and
elastic as they are. After delegate votes foc
the states preference as long as that prefer
ence in his judgment has chance, he is re-
leased from any instruction In the past some
delegates forgot the states preference or ig-
nored it and voted according to the political
exigencies of the convention.
History may repeat at Kansas City-there
is nothing that can prevent it. Lowden prob
ably will get North Dakota's vote or the great
Minoisan starts to slip, the inevitable break
will come.
An analysis of Tuesdays vote indicates an
Interest in rural precincts. Farmers doubtless
are still hoping that some form of farm relief
or tariff adjustment can be had which will
place agriculture on the same basis as some
more favored industries. Lowden's name sug-
gested to them more hope Of relief than the
names Of other candidates prominently meli-
toned for the presidency.
In the cities if there was any greater indif-
ference at this election than in the past, and
= comparison Of the vote Of four years ago does
not show any remarkable abatement of inter-
est, there may be reason. Four years ago
there was three-cornered contest for the pres
idential endorsement. That attracted more
votes. President Coolidge was a candidate for
? second term and the federal machine was
busy stimulating interest ALSO At that the
vote last Tuesday probably won't be 20 pei
cent less than was cast four years ago. il
Is too early at this writing to ascertain the
total vote cast in the recent primary. If there
were any appreciate shrinkage in the city
vote OF four years ago-and that is the only
tar basis OF copparison-it may be due to 9
dislike Of the political leadership among The
Independent forces which control the non-rura
vote. The Real Republican Committee has
opposed the legally constituted Republican
State Central committee. Independents havs
always bolted that committee when they founf
the Nonpartisans controlled it, despite the
fact that the law provides the party machinery
Ii North Dakota.
Il the presidential primary is repealed, as
the Fargo Forum suggests, where would thu
Real Republicans" 60? They don't like to as
sociate with the legally elected committee
\ men; they don't like the primary and now rise.
IN ordinary voter and asks what in "heck" d.
.xtboy like or want?
Laugh that one off!
Saving