The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-07-16
Recent Primary Conducted
Reveals Percentage Civ
en- To Both Major Po-
litical Parties
By PRESTON GROVER
tIBy Associated ISrensl


tBy Associated Tre~sD
WASHINGTON, July 49,
Anyone interested in the trouble.
some mathematics of politics,
nigh. take North Dakota.
The recent primary there
brought out $4,000 Republican
votes and $4,000 Democratic
votes. But 20 say that indicates
North Dakota already is herded
into the Republican corral is to
invite a display of many figures
which simply shout: ''Not so, not
So"
Republicans in North Dakota
long have been looked upon as in
dependent. As a measure of that
independence, it might be recalled
that in 1882 the state gave Presi-
dent Roosevelt a 100000 votes
majority and Senator Nye, a Re-
publican, about the same.
Just to make the problem more
complex, there has been a split in
Republicans ranks along new lines
which was demonstrated by the
primary to be as nearly fifty-fifty
as 1t Is possible TO make it.
LANCER VS.. Wexford
Former Governor William Lam
ger, acquitted of permitting mis-
use of relief funds for political
purposes, heads what North Da-
kotans describe as the more radi-
cal wing of the Republican party.
Heading the other wing is Act
ing Governor Walter Wexford
whose elevation to the governor.
ship was itself a bit extraordinary
But to go on with the records
In 1884, Mrs. Lydia LANCER
wife of the former governor
sought election as a sort of vim
dication of her husband but wa.
defeated by Thomas H. Noodle, {
Democrat. With its capacity FOL
doing the unusual, the state elected
Wexford, a Republican, lieutenan
governor. He succeeded to thu
governorship when Noodle wa
found ineligible because of having
voted outside the state within tn,
previous five years.
Paradoxes Aplenty
Yet when Wexford and LANCE
faced each other in the pas
primary, Wexford, supported b.
Senator Nye, won by only a few
more than 600 votes.
Some North Dakota Republican
are predicting the state will cleo
Wexford and conversely, may G,
Democratic for Roosevelt. The,
hold little doubt that Rep. viii
liam Lemke will be reelected t,
the house as a Republican despit
his Union party leadership.
What they are more cOncerne,
about is what will happens il
1888. In that year Senator Ny
will be up for reelection, likel
with LANCER and possibly wit
Lemke opposing him for the no
mination.
Even North Dakotans can
figure that one out.
One OF the problems confront
ing campaign strategists OF bot
parties is to preserve-or increaS
their representation in cor
gress.
All of the 435 house seats ar
to be filled. At present there ar
314 Democrats, 100 Republicans
three Farmer-Laborites.. seveI
Progressives and IL vacancies.
Terms of only 80 senators eS
pire, but included are some of tn
outstanding figures both on tn
majority and minority side:
There are Is Democratic seats. 1
Republican, and one Farmer
Labor. The Republican list is tn
largest to come up for at leas
8 another six years, as the period o
Roosevelt ascendancy trimme
down their representation mark
eddy.
Only five Republican seats i
the senate become vacant in 1898
the survivors Of 1892: six Repu
blican terms, one Farmer-Labo
and one Progressive expire i
1910.