The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-03-18
Nation HeQrket1S to
N. d. Democrat Vote
Affirms Overwhelmingly Ability
of Roosevelt to Command
Votes in West
IS WARNING TO REPUBLICANS
Also Disposes Of Surmise That
Murray Is Idol Of Dis
tressed Agriculture
BY BYRON PRICE


North Dakota's voice may count for
less than per cent in the electoral
college, but near-complete returns
Friday from Tuesdays primary show
ed she had spoken loudly enough to
be heard 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
surmise that Alfalfa Bill" Murray
had become the universal idol Of dis
tressed agriculture; and notified the
Republican party that there is appre-
ciable party disaffection in that par.
ticular Republican territory.
For Roosevelt, the North Dakota
triumph falls into q class with his
conquest in New Hampshire week
ago. Only 10 delegates were at stake
and until the final count he was not
assured of every one, but 1t was a de-
cision won at the polls and not in
convention. and won against a can
didate having special appeal to the
section. The psychological advantage
of such a victory Is unquest.oned by
any politician.
Has 50 Delegates
The New York governor now has
pledged to him more than so dele
gates. every one from states bordering
on Canada. He has prospect OF
more from the same northern tier.
and a reliable promise Of substantial
help from the south. Next week
Georgia is expected to make formal
plegde and other states win follow.
There remains, however. that pop
ulous stretch Of country between the
extreme north and the extreme south.
From New York to Missouri. Roose-
velt has not yet the pledge Of single
delegate, and he needs many II he is
to win. His problem from now on
will lie largely in that territory-and
in Massachusetts,, where he has been
entered in severe trial of popular
ity with Alfred E. Smith:
Proportionately, the North Dakota
results mean more to Murray than
they do to Roosevelt. With only his
own state behind him thus far, the
Oklahoma governor had high hopes
his campaign Of dissent from the
present order would sweep the north
western farmers off their feet.
He had pinned his hopes on the
west and a part of the south. An
earlier plan to enter New Hampshire
was put aside so he could take his
baptism Of fire in state where the
dominant Observation-Disclosures
is in its second decade of almost
continuous depression. His friends
had hoped that, at the very least, he
would run Roosevelt close race. Civ
ing him prestige in neighboring
states and insuring that he would be
a real factor in the convention.
Name Hoover Delegates
Among the Republicans, the results
were not much of 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
pIClCI CHIC VOVC WdO OlVlACO UCCWSSAA
Joseph I. France of Maryland and
Jacob 8. Coxey of Ohio. but there Is
no assurance that, under the peculiar
state law, either of them will have
a single delegate. A majority of del
egates favoring Hoover was elected.
The extraordinary number of Re-
publicans who voted in the Democra-
tic primary, however, occasioned
curiosity and concern among the par
ty regulars. It was hardly expected
the Democratic total would be SO
great. Senator Nye, a Republican in
dependent, said this was proof of
widespread dissatisfaction with the
administrations 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, partic-
ularly among the badly-split Massa-
chusetts Democrats. but without deci-
Sive result.