Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1898-07-22
OFFICIAL PAPER BuRlEIGH co.
CONGRESSMAN J%OHNSON'S AS
PIRATIONS,
BY M. H. JEWELL.

P1RATIONS.
1t is no doubt the desire of u es-
teemed Congressman johnson, VINO has
been actively engaged in the past few
weeks enlightening the voters OF several
counties in the Red River valley as to
the immense prestige he has gained IN
Washington and the wide influence he
Yields in national affairs, that the state
convention endorse him for the United
States senate, az was done in the case of
Senator Davis of Minnesota, believing
perhaps that all national characters
should be treated in the same way. OF
course we all realize that Senator Davis
is not to be mentioned in the same cen
fury with Congressman johnson, in the
matter of Importance and value to the
public. For was it not Congressman
johnson who passed the Dingley tariff
bill and declared war against Spain?
And what has Senator Davis done that
should entitlc him to more consideration
than the North Dakota congressman:
Nothing, absolutely nothing. Con-
gresham johnson is the only man in
congress so far as we have heard, who
has pried up n corner of the govern
ment and put a section of his massive
intellect under it to keep it from sink
ing in the quicksand of financial dis
order. We have Mr.. Johnson's word
for this, and the statement is corrobor-
ated by Winship of the Grand Forks
Herald, who invented the republican
party and o owns the original patent
Of the institution. And when Congress
man Johnson's statement is corrobor-
ated by Editor Winship, we desire to
state that we know of only one author
ity that is to be believed more quickly
the late lamented Baron Munchausen.
But there are several reasons why the
republican state convention is apt to
differ from Congressman johnson in
this matter of endorsement. In Mime
sofa, the call for the republican state
convention providedthat delegates come
prepared to select a candidate for rec
o~mmendation as United States senator.
The state was therefore given fair notice
of the intention of the convention and
ample notice was given to the repub-
licans of the state. No such thing has
been done in North Dakota and dele
gates have been selected for the purpose
of nominating a state ticket. Congress
mar johnson has endeavored to inject
his illustrious personality into the con-
vention for the reason that he believes,
perhaps, that his chances are better it
he could secure an endorsement from
the convention and that he will be more
likely to secure an endorsement since
the matter Of the senatorship is not an
issue with the other candidates at this
time. Perhaps the congressman be-
lieves that he is entitled to an endorse
ment in the way of vindication, since he
has been running steadily behind his
ticket for the past few years. But we
are surprised that two such s%potless
moralists as johnson and Winshir
should seek to align delegates who have
not been elected for that purpose, in en-.
dorsement of Mr.. Johnson's candidacy
1t is unfair to the people, since they
have had no notice of the issue, and il
savors of machine methods, which these
illustrlous gentlemen have so heartily
decried. 1t means that other candidates
are TO be shut out without consideration
and it is against the spirit of the con
%stitution which says the United State
senators shall be elected by the legisla
ture. And if the congressman argue
that senators should be elected by tn
people, it does not alter the fact tina
the congressman with the bullying self
esteem and the:editor with the abnorma
%sanctity are e~ndeavoring to take sna]
judgment in a matter Of the highest i'm
portance, by eneaking an issue into tn
state convention which does not belon,
there.
We believe there is little fear that tn
state convention will bring itself to Sc
the necessity of endorsing the congress
man with the swelling self-importance
beyond, perhaps, a quiet expression q
his wisdom in withdrawing from tn
congressional race. We appreciate, G
course, the hattering tribute of the re
publicans of Nelson county, wherein til
congressman is recognized as the great
est statesman and 80 cent wheat exper
who ever came over the pike. But a
the republicans who have thus voucha
for the congressman are usually hand
capped by an inability to elect member
of the legislature Of the republican faitf
the force Of their recommendation {