Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1890-05-23
THE situation as far as the Republican

The situation as far as the Republican
party in North Dakota is concerned is
somewhat mixed at present, butt is not
unlikely that some means for unification
may besfound at the next state conven-
ton. It is safe to say, however, that har-
mony will not exist in great chunks if an
attempt should be made TO again force
Gov. Miller to the front. And why
should he be SO forced2 What has he
done that he should be honered at all by
the Republicans Of North Dakota? Let
us look up his record.
In the first place we find him, prior to
the Fargo convention, promising that he
would not be a candidate against that gal
liant old soldier, Gen. Harrison Allen.
Then, at the eleventh hour, he was
brought forward as an alleged farmer can.
didate, Notwithstanding that Gen. Allen
was in the field as the choice of united
delegation from Cass-the leading agrl-
cultural county of the state.
And the man chosen by his faction as
chairman of the convention was Farmer
Cochrane, of Grand Forks, who thanked
"the court" for henoring him.
And the horny-handed granger-P. j.
McCumber, Of Wahpeton--who did the
nominating act, addressed the convention
as gentlemen of the jury"
These were the farmer" leaders.
The test vote stood 131 to 130-one ma>
jority fer the Miller faction. Miller was
chosen. And the big minority went heme
and worked faithfully for his election.
His largest majoritles were in anti
prohibition districts. In this (the 26th)
district Gov. Miller got nine tenths of the
total vote. although he was known to be
prohlbitlonist and the district-s went
heavily anti. prehib. But t'Mugwnmp Mof
fet, the Bismarck ninny, despised by nine
out of ten of the people Of the Slope, has
been his prophet In these parts, and now
he has compelled every county in the
state to pay SIS year for Moffet's worth
less sheet, under the new estray law.
Before the lottery bill came up, it is
said Miller and Goodwin knew all about
it. But, as Goodwin wrote, he wanted to
.set up stoves on his political oppos
nents, and he. kept mum, in order to trap
and kill them. Aud now his own polit,
icst eornsa produces stsnch in: com parl-
aon with Which the aroma of Linburg
cheese comes as . perfume from Araby
the Blest.. .
Well, the lottery bill came before the
legislature, and q large majority favored,
it. Now, the members of the tive houses
we're At least average North Dakotans.
They were farmers mostly; but the law
medicine and other occupations were rep.
resented. These men had just been picke.
out by their nelghbors to represent them
in the first legislature Of the new state.
They were chosen at a free and fair eIec.
tion, and that they were 40 chosen
sls preof Of the fact that they were pop
lular and of good standing in there re
spective communicate their homes
where they were best known AS The
Grand Forks Plaindealer has we'll put 1t
if these representative North Dakotans
taken at random from the people, anc
freshly chosen, were venal and corrupt by
| a large majority, what shall be SAID OF
| those North Dakotans who staid at home
With the state debt limited by ceusttu
tienal provision to $200,0OO, with bank.
ruptcy threatened from this cause, anc
with farmers destitute of seed in mum
| Der of counties, it is rot wonderful thn,
the members of the legislature thought il
better to charter a lottery than to beg
The governor OPPOSED the andager bill
as was his right. But he had no ''culP' tc
join with the Pioneer Press in assuming
that those legislators who differed from
him were ''sc0undrels'' or to throw
patronage lato the hands of mugwump
editor who asserted that they were 'cut-
throats." Had Gov. Miller said, II canno,
agree with you, gentlemen-I am not in
favor of the Sandager bill'--all would
have been we'll He would have only
exercised the right Of every American cit.
izea to think on matters political as he
Pleases. No one, without proof to the
contrary, would have been justified in
doubling the purity of his motives. He
could have vetoed the bill, and that would
have settled the matter, the Lottery would
have been kept out and the differences IN
the Republican party would not have
arisen. Instead Of pursuing this course,
the governor appealed through the Pio-
neer Press tor the aid of outside pubic
opinion to help HIM to turn to righteous
ness the wicked hearts Of those who
represented the people in their laws
making power. This same paper. too
which Gov. Miller afterwards publicly
thanked in St. Paul--has been opposed to
pretty much everything not bearing the
stamp Of wealth" and ''aristocracy," !"
whether in the shape of an inter state
commerce law or farmers alliance.
What in common has "a farmer gov
ernor with such paper3
All sorts Of charges Of bribery have
been made by Mlller's friends against the
Republican majority in the legislature,
but nota specification or word of proof
has been offered So far but two men
have been accused openly Of receiving
bribes from the lottery people. and both
are now bowling against the ''old gang"
One IS Jordan, Of the Fargo Republican,
who is directly accused by the Ar.
gus with having admitted thst he received
$500 for his promised support. The other