Evening star., 1932-03-18
DAKOTA VOTE D|MS
HOPES OF MURRAY
Oklahoma Governor Had
Pinned Faith on Attitude of
Agricultural West.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
North Dakota's voice may count fol
less than l per cent in the electora,
college, but near-complete returns today
from Tuesdays primary showed she
had spoken loudly enough to be heart
from coast to coast on three important
political questions Of the hour.
| So far as she herself Is concerned
she affirmed overwhelmingly the oft.
questioned ability of New York's Gov.
ernor, Franklin D. Roosevelt, to COM
mand the support of the rank and file
of Western voters; disposed Of any sur
mise that alfalfa Bill' Murray has
become the universal idol of distressed
agriculture, and notified the Republican
party that there is appreciable party
disaffection in that particular Republi.
can territory.
Value Is Unquestioned.
For Roosevelt the North Dakota tri-
umph falls into a class with his con-
quest Of New Hampshire a week ago
Only 10 delegates were at stake and
until the final count he was not assured
Of every one, but it was decision won
at the polls and not in convention, an6
won against a candidate having special
appeal to the section. The psychology
cal advantage of such a victory Is
unquestioned by any politician.
The New York Governor now has
pledged to him more than so delegates
every one from States bordering or
Canada. He has a prospect of more
from the same Northern tier and a re-
liable promise of substantial help from
the South. Next week Georgia Is ex-
pected to make a formal pledge ano
other States will follow.
There remains, however, that popu.
lous stretch Of country between the
extreme North and the extreme South
From New York to Missouri Roosevelt
has not yet the pledge of single dele
gate, and he needs many If he is tc
win. His problem from now on will
lie largely in that territory-and In
Massachusetts,, where he has been en-
tered in severe trial of popularity
with Alfred E. Smith.
Proportionately, the North Dakota
results mean more to Murray thar
they do to Roosevelt. With only his
own State behind him thus far, the
Oklahoma Governor had high hopes
that his campaign of dissent from the
present order would sweep the North
western farmers of their feet.
Pinned Hopes ON West.
He had pinned his hopes on the
West and part of the South. An
earlier plan to enter New Hampshire
was put aside so that he could take
his baptism of fire In a State where
the dominant industry - agriculture -
now Is In its second decade of almost
continuous depression. His friends had
hoped that, at the very least, he would
run Roosevelt close race, giving him
prestige in neighboring States and in
suring that he would be real factor
in the convention.
Among the Republicans, the results
were not much of a surprise. The
party organization in North Dakota
has been in the hands of the insur-
gents, and President Hoover was not
even entered in the primaries The
preference vote was divided between
Josph l. France of Maryland and Jacob
S. Coxey of Ohio. but there is no as
surance that, under the peculiar State
law, either of them will have a single
delegate. A majority of delegates IA
voring Hoover was elected.
The extraordinary number of Repub-
hcans who voted in the Democratic
primary, however, occasioned curiosity
and concern among the party regulars.
1t was hardly expected the Democratic
total would be so great. Senator Nye,
Republican independent, said this
was proof of widespread dissatisfaction
with the administration's farm policies.
The Hoover leaders were silent.
In the country generally, 1t was a
week of comparative political quiet, and
North Dakota had the spotlight almost
entirely to herself. There was plenty
of local maneuvering, particularly
among the badly split Massachusetts,
Democrats, but without decisive result.