The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-02-09
The New Deal in the Saddle
(Dickey County Leader)

North Dakota Democrats. long ne
elected and pushed and pulled about
by their more powerful Republican
brethren. are at last getting their re-
ward. No longer are they meek and
subservient. No longer do they obey
the reckoning Republican finger. They
are in the saddle riding hard and
raring to 60.
At the Bismarck meeting last week
they laid plans for the building Of
political machine designed to heal
the states sores resulting from long
continued misrule by Republican adj
ministrations," and to put North Da-
kota back in its proper place. They
admitted great responsibility, but
indicated that they were capable and
willing, If not actually eager. to get
under way.
In fact, enthusiasm is one Of the
things Of which the Democrats have
good supply. After years OF sup
preston they are like gang of boys
just out of school. One reason for
this, of course. is the Young Demo-
Gratis organization, a smart move to
interest the young voter In politics.
and especially in the Democratic
party. Wheel-horses Of both parties
are growing old, and slowing up as q
consequence. But the Democratic
oldsters are fully capable Of supply
ing the brains, and if they keep the
enthusiasm of the young hot-bloods
from wrecking the machine, they
should go far. That Is, provided the
Republicans can be made to see the
light.
For more than ten years the two
major parties have been moribund In
North Dakota. Instead, economics,
so-called, has been the line of cleav-
age, with supporters rallying around
either the Nonpartisan or the 1nde-
pendent standard. Because the Re-
publican camp was more powerful,
the League waged its battles under
that banner Hard-pressed, the Re-
publicans pleaded Tor Democratic
succor, and with nothing to lose, the
Deuls gave it. That was the situa-
ton up to the last election, when the
great strength of the national Demo-
cratic machine swept even the con-
sentative Republican faction In state
politics into the discard, leaving the
state in control Of Nonpartisan adj
ministration.
But the League is house divided.
Governor LANCER has lost the support
even Of his own executive committee,
and with enemies on all sides, should
be easy to topple. That Is the view of
all bystanders: but who is to do the
topping? There's the rub.
For the normal anti-League Re-
publican strength Is approximately
fifty per cent Of the total, with the
Nonpartisans and Democrats split
ting the remainder. We now have a
triangle, with diverse forces pulling
all directions. The anti-Langer Re-
publican forces, combining with the
Democrats, doubtless could make an
ex-governor Of Mr.. LANCER In record
time. But will the stand-pat Repub-
licanS consent to such union? The
leaders know that their sun is In tenn
porary eclipse, but they never could
be made to believe that that sun had
set. In other words. they feel they
must maintain their political purity
and keep alight the sacred fires. The
Democrats have for years worked
with the Republicans. VIII these last
reciprocate now?
These things, Of course. are elemen-
tary, and have been threshed out
many times by the leaders. At first
glance the situation would appear to
be q perfect set-up for the Democrats.
Victorious nationally. they should
sweep to victory in the state as we'll.
They should, and perhaps will: but
it must not be forgotten that in the
state, IS In the nation, the Demo-
Gratis are riding the wave at this
time, not because Of superior strength,
but by virtue Of an unprecedented
protest vote. And nobody knows what
protest vote will do. Which ex-
plains, perhaps, why the wise old
Democrats are fighting shy for the
time Of any entanglements out Of
which they cannot later extricate
themselves gracefully. In the mean
time, the Young Democrats shoot Oft
the fireworks.