More Sound Than Steam

Once in a blue moon is North Dakota's timetable for electing a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives. In 74 years of statehood it has happened only in 1958, when now-Senator Quentin Burdick pulled a stunning upset.

Thus the state's Republicans were not exactly frantic when they learned that the Democrats were running a politically untested university professor in last week's special congressional election to fill the seat of Representative Hjalmar C. Nygaard, who died last summer. It would, the G.O.P. thought, be a snap.

As it turned out, the Republican candidate won--but not easily.

To lead the expected rout, the G.O.P. picked--over two more conservative possibles--Moderate Mark Andrews, 38, a Fargo farmer and Republican national committeeman. The Democrats had Dr. John Hove, 47, English professor at North Dakota State University and a down-the-line Kennedy man.

But what neither Republicans nor Democrats had reckoned on was the energetic ire of an ultraconservative, Birch-barking farmer from tiny Gilby (pop. 300), Republican John W. Scott. For Scott's money Andrews was entirely too liberal, and two weeks before the election Scott suddenly jumped into the race as an independent "to test conservative strength."

Drawing support from such far-out groups as the Birchers, Scott advised voters to "shoot the works" by sending him to Congress and his political idol, Barry Goldwater, to the White House. He dismissed Democrat Hove as a "fuzzy, liberal, socialist egghead," concentrated his fire on Fellow Republican Andrews. "The middle of the road has shifted to the left of center," cried Scott of Andrews' moderate views. "The center line on the highway is dangerous ground."

All this proved mighty worrisome to North Dakota Republicans who feared Scott might siphon off enough G.O.P. votes to give the race to Democrat Hove. Appealing to "alarmed Republicans," the party organization mounted a massive get-out-the-vote drive, brought in moderate Senator Milton Young, who labeled Scott a "far-right liberal."

The clincher came when Barry Goldwater strongly urged Andrews' election. Wired he to Andrews: "Your views on fiscal responsibility, less Government interference and a firm foreign policy are in accord with the sentiments of all Americans." When the ballots were finally counted, Winner Andrews had 47,068 to Hove's 42,479. Third-Runner Scott showed up with only 6,018, less than 7% of the vote.

All of which seemed to indicate that, at least in North Dakota, the radical right produces more sound than power-generating steam.

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