The national election is just days ahead. It’s Franklin Roosevelt running for an unprecedented third term vs. Wendel Willkie, a corporate lawyer.
MIGHT BE LANDSLIDE FOR REPUBLICANS
This newspaper is Republican - has been for 21 years that we know about. This is a political year - - the election is just around the corner. You folks will go and vote, you'll vote for the best candidate you know of. That's your privilege because you're Americans. You'll receive a ballot that has all of the major parties represented thereon.
If you pick the wrong candidates well, its your fault. A lot of countries in this troubled old world don't go to that much trouble.
People really amount to something in the United States. Let's start from the top.
President Roosevelt is pro-British and would, we believe, throw this country into the European war tomorrow morning if he dared. President Roosevelt inherited his fortune, comes from one of the richest families in the country and slid into office because you voters voted against one Herbert Hoover. Are we right so far?
On the other side of the ledger we have the Republican candidate Wilkie. Raised in Indiana. Hogs and corn. A strapping gink who fought his way through school, shoats, and corn.1 Who takes eggs thrown by WPA's and grins until they hit his wife. Then it takes four Chicago policemen to lead him on the train.
Photo of Wilkie in a car with egg splattered on the hood.
Either one of these men, if elected have the power to throw the constitution in the river, declare war on anybody tomorrow and there you are. It's just a question of who you want for president. We're voting for Willkie. You do as you like?
Moving down the column, we come to United States Senator.
There you'll find, on the Republican side one Bill Langer. He was your governor and you never had a better one. His appointees still retain office and we'll mention a couple: Flank Vogel manager of the Bank of North Dakota and Bob Stangler manager of the Mill and Elevator.
Are there any kicks about these two men? If there are, let's hear 'em. We'll publish all kicks because this newspaper belongs to about 300 of the best farmers in this county.2
Today we had the opportunity of talking to a man who had been in Willkie's company for a couple of days. Bill Langer, rode around the country on a special train and things.
"What's he like?" inquires we.
"One hell of a big guy," responded Bill. "Never saw a man who can take hold of things so fast. You start telling him something and he's got the idea better than you have. He may be a corporation attorney, but he's got the common man's picture too. Knows things. Can argue about anything. Likes it. I'd like to hear him and FDR in a debate. FDR knows better.
And the. Nonpartisan League says: Vote Republican. All League candidates are on the Republican side. Vote Republican from top to bottom and you won't miss.
This newspaper does not pick candidates, your delegates do that. The state ticket is good. The platform is good. Vote Republican from top to bottom and you won't be wrong.
I gave this piece to Gemini, an AI program, to critic. Here it is:
Analysis of the Editorial:
Strong Partisan Stance: The editorial clearly states its Republican affiliation from the outset, setting the tone for a biased perspective.
Call to Action: It urges readers to vote Republican across the board, framing it as the obvious choice for informed Americans.
Fear-Mongering: The editorial uses fear to sway voters against Roosevelt, suggesting he would impulsively lead the US into war.
Simplistic Portrayals: It presents oversimplified portrayals of both candidates, relying on stereotypes (Roosevelt the wealthy elite, Wilkie the common man who faced hardship).
Local Focus: The editorial connects the national election to local figures like Bill Langer, manager of the Bank of North Dakota, and manager of the Mill and Elevator to resonate with the local audience.
Appeals to Local Ownership: It emphasizes that the newspaper belongs to local farmers, suggesting a shared interest in Republican values.
Use of Anecdotal Evidence: The conversation with someone who met Wilkie is presented as evidence of his character and intelligence.
Emphasis on Party Unity: The editorial stresses voting a straight Republican ticket, including the Nonpartisan League's endorsement.
Checking the Accuracy of Facts:
Let's look at some of the factual claims:
"President Roosevelt is pro-British and would ... throw this country into the European war tomorrow morning if he dared." This is a highly subjective and biased interpretation. While Roosevelt was sympathetic to the Allied cause, the US did not enter World War II until December 1941, after the attack on Pearl Harbor. In October 1940, the US was still officially neutral, although it was providing aid to Britain. This statement is an exaggeration and not an objective fact.
"President Roosevelt inherited his fortune, comes from one of the richest families in the country and slid into office because you voters voted against one Herbert Hoover." Roosevelt did inherit wealth, and his family was prominent, but the statement simplifies the reasons for his election. The Great Depression was a major factor in Hoover's unpopularity and Roosevelt's victory in 1932. While anti-Hoover sentiment played a role, Roosevelt's policies and promises of relief and recovery were also significant.
"On the other side of the ledger we have the Republican candidate Wilkie. Raised in Indiana. Hogs and corn. A strapping gink who fought his way through school, shoats, and corn." Wendell Willkie was indeed raised in Indiana and involved in agriculture. The description uses folksy language to appeal to the common voter.
"Who takes eggs thrown by WPA's and grins until they hit his wife. Then it takes four Chicago policemen to lead him on the train." This anecdote seems to be a highly biased account, likely intended to portray Wilkie as initially good-natured but easily angered when his wife was involved. To verify this specific incident and its accuracy would require looking into historical accounts of Wilkie's campaign events in Chicago in 1940. Without specific evidence, it's hard to confirm the details and the portrayal. It's worth noting the photo mentioned in the editorial, which would likely be propaganda supporting this narrative.
"There you'll find, on the Republican side one Bill Langer. He was your governor and you never had a better one. His appointees still retain office and we'll mention a couple: Flank Vogel manager of the Bank of North Dakota and Bob Stangler manager of the Mill and Elevator." William "Bill" Langer served multiple terms as Governor of North Dakota. He was a controversial figure, having been removed from office twice. Whether he was the "best governor" is subjective. Frank Vogel did serve as Manager of the Bank of North Dakota, and Robert Stangler as Manager of the North Dakota Mill and Elevator during periods overlapping with Langer's governorship and 1940. So, this part appears factually correct in terms of their positions.
"And the. Nonpartisan League says: Vote Republican. All League candidates are on the Republican side." In the 1940 election, the Nonpartisan League in North Dakota did largely align with the Republican party, endorsing their candidates. This was a shift from earlier periods where the NPL had a more independent stance.
In conclusion:
The editorial is a piece of partisan propaganda designed to encourage readers to vote Republican. It employs persuasive language, appeals to local sentiment, and uses fear to sway opinions. While some of the factual claims are generally accurate (like Wilkie's background and Langer's appointees), others, particularly those concerning Roosevelt and the egg-throwing incident, are presented with significant bias and lack objective verification within this text. The statement about Roosevelt's desire to immediately enter the war is a clear example of political rhetoric rather than a neutral factual assessment.
I knew that the Stanley Sun had shareholder but this is the first time I have seen the number mentioned. Also it’s the first time I’ve seen an outright declaration of being a Republican paper.
