The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-06-16
North Dakota and the Poll

North Dakota and the Poll
The first statistical measure OF
North Dakota's reaction to the New
Deal" of President Roosevelt is that
contained in the current report of the
Literary Digest's poll, in which this
state appears for the first time.
It shows the president holding the
support Of most Of those who voted
for him In 1882 and gaining addition
al converts In other quarters. While
the ratio for the New Deal" Is not
rs strong as that recorded in the 1882
election, It is sufficiently strong to
convince the average observer that
North Dakota is, on the whole, favor
ably impressed by the present expert
ment.
The basic figures are 1,743 In favor
10 1868 against out Of total Of 2,S06
votes cast.
OF those who voted for Roosevelt
10 months ago, l,246 like the New
Deal" and 3lS are opposed to it. a
detection Of approximately one vote
in five from the presidents standard.
or those who voted for Hoover, AS
like the proposals Of the new era and
6s5 are opposed to 1t. indicating a
stronger ratio OF conversion than Of
detection.
Among those who voted for other
candidates In 1882 the decision is
much closer, the score being % to %
in favor OF the presidents policies.
It would appear. on this basis, that
the Roosevelt experiment is only
slightly more popular among the So
cialists and Communists than among
the Republicans who stuck with the
sinking ship IN 1882.
Roosevelt gets almost two-to-one
margin among those who did not vote
at all In 1882, the majority Of whom
may be presumed to be new voters.
Among the bankers Of the state,
the opinion in North Dakota IS more
closely divided than in most other
sections, 50 liking the new setup and
"a being opposed to it.
On the whole, the results are not
surprising. This state, more than
most others, has evidenced flair
for political experiment. It is tradi-
tionally progressive" In outlook and
has never hesitated to try something
new. This, added to the difficulties
Of recent years, has apparently Great
ed q complex favorable to the Roose-
welt experiment.
A slant on this situation may be
obtained BY talking with the average
businessman and farmer, since the
polls errors In this state have always
been on the side Of conservatism
rather than otherwise.
In the program for the state I'm
plement dealers convention, which
will meet here next week. for exam
pie, there appears q plea for renewed
cooperation and q stronger integra'
ton Of interest by the people in that
business. It closes with the signifi'
cant statement. The old rugged in
dividualism was fine, but with every
other element that we contact full.
organized, and with new forms o.
competition seeking our customers
trade, can we afford to take chancs
single-handed against the odds w
tace?"
This does not, of course, COMM
the program makers to the "Nev
Deal" or anything approaching 1t
but that crack about rugged individ
ualism" may have more than passin
significance. At the very least it cal
be accepted as an indication that tn
man who wrote the program, If n
others. is willing to accept the viey
that the close relationships OF tn
modern world demand some kind o
collective action.
That this idea is fairly widespread
Is evident from the results of tn
Literary Digest count.