Evening star., 1932-03-28
Primaries i'm North Dakota
Surprise i'm Political World

Defeat of Alfalfa Bill" Murray ir
North Dakota by Gov. Roosevelt of New
York is felt by the country as a whole
to have eliminated the Oklahoma can
didate from the presidential race. Fig
ures of the total vote are shown to have
been made up largely by the votes OF
former Republicans in that State, and
the significance of this is a subject fol-
speculation. The extremely progressive
nature OF North Dakota sentiment is ac-
cepted as an indication of the diversity
of elements supporting Roosevelt.
Most positive of the comments is that
Of the Omaha World-Herald Qndepend-
ent Democratic), in the statement that
the vote lis the harbinger of a sweep
ing political revolution" and the con-
clusion 1T will be dificult to con-
tinue disputing the obvious. The peo-
pile, regardless Of former party aff1lia-
tions, want Franklin D. Roosevelt for
their next President. His strength is
greater than his party's strength, pen
etrating deep into the ranks OF the op-
posing party and appealing particularly
to independent voters. His following is
not dependent upon State pride; it Is
not sectional. but national"
thrush of North Dakotans into the
Democratic primary" according to the
Schenectady Gazette independent
Democratic), lis generally taken to
forecast sweep for that party in No
vember 1t indicates their diSsatisfac-
ton with the Washington administra-
ton; a determination to effect a change
by the use of their ballots. For years
until 1882, the Democratic party in
North Dakota has been a name only. II
has had a skeleton organization, moth
ing more. Last weeks primary shows
a heavy swing from the Republican
ranks to the Democrats with promise OF
a record vote in the Fall for the latter's
nominee"
Referring to the support Of Mr.
Roosevelt by independents in New York
the Chattanooga Times (Democratic)
remarks: us 1t not rather curious that
political elements Of such diversity
should be for the same man?" The
Peoria Star independent Republican,
asks: Can 1t be possible that North
Dakota Is preparing to desert the Re-
publican cohorts and join up with the
Democrats" The Haverhill Gazette
(indepenSent Democratic) advises that
''the unusual interest among North Da-
kota citizens in Democratic national
will have to work hard in that State
and In other States that are social,
economic or political kin of North
Observing that the present admins
tration no longer has the help of a
populace contented to the Saturation
point with the status quo" the Detroit
News independently comments: I'VE
don't know whether the Republican
voters of North Dakota were just play
ing their lunches in voting in the Dem
ocratic primaries, or have actually be-
come inoculated with Mr.. Jefferson's
famous serum and are permanently for
Saking the G. o. P, but it is certain
that a good many of the latter's shibbo-
leths have become suspect among them.
And that may not be a bad thing, as
party Sibboleths are about the emptieSt
and falsest things In our political life"
THE inevitable conclusion" thinks
the South Bend Tribunte independent
Republican,, lis that many Republicans
went to the polls as Democrats. This
naturally Is interpreted by some anti
administration speakers, United States
Senator @. P. Nye of North Dakota
among them, as a concrete expression
of anti Hoover sentiment in that State
If SO, the North Dakota Republica<
adopted . peculiar method Of showing
diSapproval Of Mr.. Hoover. It wasn't
necessary to participate in the Demo-
cratic primary; they could have con-
served their efforts until November. BY
that time many, If not all. OF them may
be pushed back into the Republican
fold by developments within the Demo-
cratic party during the convention and
campaign. as well as by improvement
in the economic situation"
The total vote cast in the Demo-
cratic primary" ~ Is pointed out by the
Roanoke World News (Democratic),