The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-03-19
An Empty Victory

CHICAGO NEW YORK bOSlON
An Empty Victory
The Real Republicans OF North
Dakota who apparently have secured
ten delegates pledged to support Presi-
dent Hoover for the presidency have
won an empty victory. This vote re-
fleets little except that many thou
sand former adherents Of the Real
Republicans which is another po-
litical name for the Republicans
identified with the I. v. A. faction OF
North Dakota, walked out Of the G
o. p. primaries and went into the
Democratic ranks to voice their dis
approval of President Hoover. This
probably was true in a greater degree
of the Republicans Of Nonpartisan
League convictions.
In view of the vote at the presi-
dental preference primary the Re-
publicans, whether Of the Real" or
the League persuasion, are going to
have a hard time to win the voters OF
this state over to Hoover unless there
is political groundswell or some
kind of an upheaval between now and
next November.
Gov. shafer and the whole I. v. A.
faction are pretty we'll committed to
President Hoover's candidacy and it
is with the Hoover label that they
must seek nomination at the June
primaries. Judging from the number
of Republicans who decided to take
Democratic ballots the other day,
Hoover labels and federal administra-
ton support may be a distinct hand
leap, but time only can reveal that,
as politics cuts up some very strange
capers.
Defeat of Judge Graham merely in
dictated that the Nonpartisan League
faction decided that this office is not
worth fighting for and as William
Stern of Fargo has quite a following
among the League members no one
got excited over that contest. Stern
is popular member of the American
Legion and he drew support from all
factions as his political past has not
been offensive to any Of the cliques.
In the approaching state campaign,
national issues probably will be
sedulously avoided except in the con-
test for United States senator.
Doubtless the Democrats who find
their party suddenly becoming pop
ular with the voters will rehabilitate
their organization and name a strong
state ticket. They have every reason
to hope for a big increase in the Dem
ocratic vote both in June and No.
vember. Leadership Of the Demo-
cratic party in North Dakota will
hardly fail to capitalize this situation
and North Dakota may find strong
Democratic state ticket as we'll as a
vigorous contest for the United States
senate.
Whether the siren call of state
patronage which has accomplished a
fusion between the I. v. A. faction
and some Democrats on state issues
will be strong enough to sacrifice
state Democracy for political pelf re-
mains to be seen.
A faction headed by recipients of
much political pie, most outstanding
of which are w. E. Byerly, John
Gammons and Charles Simons, will
doubtless attempt to preserve the old
working agreement between Demo-
Gratis and I. v. A. leaders, not on a
basis Of political principles but on a
division Of the spoils. Gammons and
!. Simons have much to answer for tc
the Democrats now flushed with vic
tory at the March 18th polls. These
Shafer supporters are credited with
setting up the straw Perry to beat
down the other Perry and have beer
roundly scored by the faction headed
by r. B. Murphy. Lanier, and others
II the old Iva. working agreement
1 is not completely broken, 1t viii be
badly shattered and not as effective
as in the good old days when Twichell
r. B. Murphy. Gammons. Byerly ane
aimons smoked the pipe Of peace II
the innermost recesses Of the I. VA
wigwam. Will wampum and politica
trtnkets preserve the old alliance un'
der new tepees and upon fresh po
1itical reservations? II the signs 0
the medicine men can be believe,
such VIII not be the case. There Is 1
terrifying clash Of tomahawks anon,
the brethren. The pipe Of peace ha'
been broken upon the altar Of shat
tered friendships. Political scalps DO
tlne scenery.
L.