The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1890-12-04


ment Of what he considered right, and
against what he believed to be wrong.
Guided by more than the usual portion Of
common sense he has generally been in
the right, and this has earned him the good
will and even the admiration of all who
have known him. For instance: Seven or
eight years ago Mr.. ualvorsen both rIuokcti
and drank, not to excess, but I'M what
people call moderation. He found that +
the prevailing vice am0ng his neighbors was
lshing themselves by Their Incorporate hap
its Without auy ostentation Kittei Hal
vorsen gave up the use of liquor altogether
and became Prohibitionist. This is what I
his neighbors say of him, and they further
say that his example has done much toward !
curing large numbers of farmers, especially
Norwegians, of their drunken habits. HIS /
neighbors also say that to his efforts mainly +
is owing the existence of the little Norwe-
gian Lutheran church, and also the estab-
lishment of a modest but useful library in
connection with the district school.
=. 1t is but natural that such man should !
become the natural leader of his fellows
and that his natural gi is and characters
tics have placed him upon an unsou@ht
pedestal in the midst of the Sean
dinavian community in which he
dwells. He is their beau ideal
of an upright, honest, capable man. and
looking upon him with their lights, they
have not shadow of doubt but that he
is a fit and proper man to represent them i'll
congress or anywhere else. They chose
kittel Halvorsen as against s. G. ConIstock
because they had lost faith in a man who
had Voted for bill which was as opposed
tn their interests as they were told the Nc.
Kinley~bill waS and Alonzo ]. Whiteman
to them was straLg ger from the big cities,
wft1fwhom they had nothing in common.
The very manner in which Halyorsen was
nominated, and his manner of campaign
ing, confirmed their good opinion of him.
Here is the way Mr.. sHalvorsen talked o
his nomination, campaign and election;
When the Alliance district convention met at
sented as candidates for CONGRESSMAN. and
among them was mine. To my surprise, and in
the tace OF my protest. the convention nomi.
mated me by 96 votes out of 102. or something
like those figures, on the first ballot. declined
the nomination, but the convention passed d
resolution ignoring my resignation. and went
OFF home feeling mad. At that time had no
idea of being elected, aud furthermore | did
not want to be elected Friends came tome and
urged me to make a canvass, and finally ! sat
out, though somewhat late in the day, I visited
st. Louis, Carlton. Aitkin, Cass, Hubbard, Po,k
Norman Becker. Otter Tail and one or two
other counties, and had just got into Douglas
! gradually became more and more convinced
that would be elected. and when some poll
ticians in Crookstop ASKED me what was run
ming for told them that was afraid would
be elected The announcement of the returns
did not surprise me, nor has it elated me /
was expecting it..
When told that reports were in. crcula-
ton to the effect that he had been kent in
the field by Democrats and Democratic
money, Mr., HalyOrsen, in place of flying
into passion, smiled and said quietly but
emrl1aticaliy!
Any person who states that was assisted.
either financially or any other way by the
Democrats, either as party or by individuals,
states what is not true,
As to Mr.. Halvorsen's qualifications for
the high duties he has been called upon to
per orm, it is not easy TO form a Just and
accurate opinion, By reason of his mode
of life he might be expected to possess mar
row views of the leading issues of the day,
or to be Ignorant of many of them. lie
might aso be expected to be more
or less wanting in that education or
polish. and knowledge of the world
and OF men, which many people
consider so essential to the perfect po!iti-
clan. Polished gentleman kittel Halvor-
sen is not, no more than was Abraham Lin
coin or Ulysses S. Grant. His reading has
been not as limited as his company, but 1t
has lacked variety, perhaps, and it must
have been impossible to keep abreast of the
current literature of the times. But al
though not Il fluent tcOnversationalist, being
man who would listen rather than
be heard, no ole can hear his terse, pointed
remarks without being convinced tha: he
is possessed of a keen, d seeming mind,
and of sufficient solid education to carry
him safely through such a temple of rare
culture as the house of representatives at
Washington. As to his views on political
questions, here are some of them:
my tendei cies have always been toward the
Republican party, although am not favorably
inclined toward high tariff, said Mr., Halvors
SEN "A time came when deemed the question
of prohibition superior to that of party poll
tics. and abandoned the Republican party"
''Would you, If you had been member vi he
last congress, have voted for the Mckinney
bin?'
~ cannot say am not sufficiently we'll ac-
Quainted with the Mckinley bill to be able to
give an answer to your question: have heard
a great deal about it, but would like to study
the measure more before deciding for or against
it. II it increases the duties ON imports am
opposed to it, and don't think ! should have
voted for it, - - p 60 H.s,g +. -.
The silver question Mr.. Halyorsen said
he had not studied, and he decliped to ex-
press an opinion regarding the recently
assed bill.
am in favor OF the proposition Of the federal
government of loannng money to farmers at y
per cent interest. II would he Of immense
benefit to the farmers who have to pay exorbi.
tant rates Of interest upon the money tEey bor-
row. am also favorably inclined toward the
sub-treasury scheme, which Is that the federal
government establish storehouses throughout
the country, where farmers can store their
produce and rseeive In return negotiable re-
of their produce, 1t would be a costly proceed
ing, however. and would require careful fore
thought. 1t is as fair u scheme as the present
system of bonded warehouses for the benefit
OF the whisky dealers,
"Do you favor government control Of the rail-
"That has always been one of nv fayorite
Ideas II we could have the civil service system
extended TO include the railroads it would
think, be practicable: but it would Be great in
jury to the country il the government had con-
troll OF the railroads and used them as a polit-
ieal machine, appointing the employees for polit
ical reasons think the civil service might very
well be extended to the whole postal service
Alter some other conversation on various
subjects, ofsome OF which Mr.. Halvorsen
frankly owned he knew nothing, while on
others he spoke intellicently, if briefly, the
reporter asked him what he thought of the
future of the Alliance party. Mr.. Haivor-
sen seemed to be OF the opinion that it had
come to STAY, and he expressed q strong
wish to see the Alliance, Labor and Prohi-
bition parties all collected into one third
party, having common platform broad
enough for them all to stand upon.
Il shall do what can to bring this about"
said he. 1T may prove an impossible task
but it is worth trying ! expect the matter viii
be brought up at the State Alliance meeting to
be held In ST. Paul on Dec. 81
Discussing the question as to whether he
should go down to Washington before con-
gress met, or not Mr.. Halvorsen remarked:
shah probably 60 down next January and
learn my way about. I need scarcely tell YOU
that 60 down there absolutely unpledeed. II
cannot conscientioasly enter into caucus with
any party find there, / shall remain out OF any
caucus There Is no reason that am aware Of
why should not be able to participate In the
Alliance caucus, If such thing is held,
In this connection it might be stated that
Mr.. Halvorsen will occupy the peculiar no.
sition of being the first congressman who
has been nominated by the Prohibition
party and been elected. The Prohibition,
lists nominated him at their convention
held after the Alliance convention, not
merely endorsing him, and be ran on both
tickets.
Before parting from Mr.. Halvorsen tha
reporter was introduced to Mrs. Halvorsen.
q comely matron of proposing appearance
and also to three or four sturdy Youngsters
rejoicing IN the surname of Halvorsen. As
the reporter shook hands with the con.
gressman- elect and hade him adieu. he ex-