Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1934-11-15
GETTING DOWN 10
~BRAS6 TACkSH


without offering anything IN ~
place." said U. S. Senator VIM. +
Borah in accounting for the crushing
defeat OF his own party following
last weeks election. That terss
statement of n of the nations mos
prominent statesmen, coupled VIII
the widespread popularity OF thai
dominating personality who Is at thu
helm of the old ship of state. fur
nishes about all the explanation nee
essary for one of the greatest tri
umphs any political party in this
country ever experienced. With q
Congress organizing soon which viii
give q president the strongest major
ity of any lawmaking body since the
Civil war. we are assured that for
another two years at least III pol.
itical destiny will be shaped and pat.
termed by a Democratic president.
The greatest single weakness OF
the Republican party's campaign
waged In Montana was the fact that,
while launching bitter attacks on
the present administration and its
program of national recovery, moth
ing constructive was offered as a
substitute. The election has shown
that voters are slow to vote some
thing down just because it is not a
hundred per cent perfect. They want
to know they are voting for some
thing better to take its place. Pres
ident Roosevelt has always admitted
his plan was OF an experimental n
ture, and that it would need correct
i've measures to make 1t serve the
masses to the best advantage. People
have clearly demonstrated by their
ballots however, that an experiment.
al program that accomplishes some
thing for the good of humanity is to
be preferred to a ~reactionary pro
gram that hesitates to act. What
ever may be said OF the weaknesses
of Roosevelt methods, no one has ev-
err questioned the courage Of this
popular leader to get action.
Borah declares his party will have
to get some kind OF a program be-
fore 1896 il 1t would expect to make
a dent in the Democratic march Of
triumph. Senator Nye OF North Da-
kota. boldly said after election that
the Republican party must be re-
organized along progressive ideals
There at least, from two national
figures, you have a 0 section OF
the tempest that will be raging
through the head waters OF the
Grand Old Party. The picture at
best Is not a pleasant one on which
leaders can look. Faced with dis
sension Of opinion among leaders OF
their own ranks, attempting to piece
together the broken fragments after
the most crushing blow ever exper-
fenced. those who attempt to steer
the shattered craft into tranquil wa
tiers will need the assistance OF the
keenest political minds before they
can cast anchor.
Two factors stand out unquestion-
ably In the march of victory In Mon
tana, the popularity OF the President
and confidence In his efforts to
bring about recovery, and the per-
sonal popularity OF B.. X. Wheeler.
Even In counties recognized as Re-
publican strongholds, and in a few
instances such as Hill and Phillips
where Republicans carried most OF
the county offices, Wheeler buried
his veteran jurist opponent under an
eve~r-increasing avalanche OF votes.
But, while the senior Senator was
long since conceded an easy winner
over BburQuin, more than his person
al popularity and magnetism was
necessary to caEy@the entire Demo
cratic ticket t~o1factory. including the
fighting young 1rishman, Jerry o.
Connell to the office OF public ser
vice commissioner and w. B. Sands
to the chief seat OF the highest trib-
unal In the state. Here was the mute
evidence which could not be chal-
lenged that the Roosevelt program
was still riding on the crest OF pop
ular accord.
People OF this territory have
watched and listened with keen In
terest the political hostilities OF their
neighboring state during the past
two months. There the lines OF
cleavage were drawn closely between
two distinct issues, set apart entirely
from national party programs. !,
was Langerism vs.. Anti-Langerlsm
It took the combined vote OF Demo
Gratis and Republicans alike in q
normal Republican state to sweeI
aside the LANCER machine n name
Thos. H. Noodle, Williston editor
the states new governor. To add &c
the thrust at LANCER was the one
sided victory for three supreme
court justices running in opposition
to those whom LANCER had openly
endorsed. Added to the rebuke o.
the LANCER machine was the down
fall OF veteran holders OF county Of
fices who had chung to the Langel
bandwagon. Notable among these
is the defeat in Divide county Of K
III. Lynch, who has been county aud
itor for 16 years and whose position
was believed to have been practical
" impregnable. People of North ia
kota turned thumbs down on Lang
ers racketeering politics, just o.
they will on Cooney's liquor racke'
eering In due time.
Comment made In this column fol
lowing the Primary election seems $
timely now thatswe are persuaded Y
repeat at least g portion OF IT. IN
feat, many times, provides q muc
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