Can an Elephant Forget?

When the Minnesota Republican Party recently decided to change its name, the possibilities were tantalizing. Considering that the Minnesota opposition calls itself the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, perhaps the G.O.P. might opt for Republican-Suburban-Businessman Party. But that would not get at the real problem, which is that the D.F.L. has captured all the important state offices and a recent poll showed that only 15% of those questioned had a "positive" image of the Republicans. Finally, the party decided on Independent-Republicans.

Democrats cried foul. The new name "implies they have severed relations with the national party," grumped State D.F.L. Chairman Ulric Scott. "An Independent-Republican is an elephant that is trying to forget." Furthermore, he slyly suggested to the state consumer affairs department, the title constitutes deceptive advertising. Minnesota's electorate -one-third of whom call themselves "independent" -will presumably rule on the matter next November.

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