The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-03-22

Foreign Representatives
SMALL. SPENCER. LEV1N0S
& BREWER
(Incorporated)
NEW YORK BOSTON
Our Biennial Party

LdICA(iO NEW YUM oO04 YIN
Our Biennial Party
North Dakota's campaigns are sell
dom dull. Ever since the Sarles-
Burke embroglio, there has been little
/ that is regular about our politics. The
campaign Of 1882 promises to be as
interesting and as complicated as
any.
! The storming Of the Democratic
primaries at the recent presidential
preference election knocked the pins
from under the political diagnos-
ticians. Now the most astute of them
. admits anything can happen.
Out of the process may come a
restoration Of party rule in this state.
The very nature of the American form
of government depends for its eff
ficiency and responsiveness upon &C
ton of parties. There have been
times when burning issues brought
about fusions, but that emergency
has passed.
As far as state issues 60, the con-
test of late has been largely battle
Of the. "ins" versus the "outs" The
voters have gone into both the I. v. A.
and Nonpartisan League groups and
picked their favorites for office.
The machine politicians, headed by
the Twichell ring of bi-partisans,
have in the past more or less effec-
lively waved the red flag In the cap
italistic centers of North Dakota and
of Minnesota. They have used the
bugaboo of socialism and radicalism
to coax campaign funds from the
eastern business interests.
This plea for funds probably will
be repeated but with the usual fervor
caused by depleted political Golfers and
there may be some embarrassing
questions asked by the big shots"
when the cry comes for cash to save
North Dakota from the reds. A very
logical question and most pertinent
to the occasion would be: In four
years Of power what has the Shafer
administration done to eliminate this
ugly menace of state socialism,"
With years of dominance of the
state industrial commission; with one
or two legislatures within their con-
troll and complete sway over the fis-
cal policies of the state for years, the
Twichell machine cannot point to
any constructive thing done to abate
what they are always calling the red
menace" in North Dakota.
OF course those who live here and
are near enough to the situation can
see the humor and political hypocrisy
in the Iva. position. North Dakota
voters generally appreciate the fact
that the biennial struggle is one
solely for political patronage and
power. Policies and principles do not
count for much. It is the simple,
selfish contest of the "ins" versus the
touts."
But there are fresh complications
IN the political camps. Usher Burdick
of Fargo, assistant United States dis
trict attorney, an old time insurgent
and once wheel horse in the clique
Of which Treadwell Twichell, brother
Of the present political boss, was a
dominating force, is out for Congress
on q wet platform. MIR. Burdick has
been prominent in North Dakota pol
itics for years and has been honored
several times by the electorate Of the
state. He once opposed Lynn J.
Frazier for gubernatorial honors.
Since the advent Of the Nonpartisan
League and the I. v. A. organization,
Mr.. Burdick has not been very active
politically. His entrance now, en-
sdorsed by the ProeressiveS should put
sscst into the Congressional campaign.
NE announces that the Progressives
5hsge not endorsed his wet proclivities
and whether his frank statement on
the liquor issue win cause them to
iblush or b offended remains to be
Seen.
h A I. J. Noe Of Valley City has not
announced his platform, It Is not
known ~ this writing whether thu
5pGxessiyeG' candidate for governor
III 5oau his running mate On the
cet t1t1ot II vet pronouncements
rs hAs very definite ideas on
~ government, some Of them quite
o1utionafy. ne may " expected "a
70 - q highway matters which
= beet aialified to discuss.
MT what holds chief interest in the