The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1899-01-13

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son because of common nationality, it
is Mr.. Johnson and his friends who raise
the issue of race, and it is they who in
vite opposition and must expect to be
opposed ON such an issue, by every man
of other blood VINO has vote. 1t is
equivalent to saying that Norwegians
are superior race to that of any other
represented in the state.
But these are perhaps minor matters,
and personal eccentrlcities that might
be condoned by other and exceptional
abilities. We send our representatives
to Washington for purpose. Broadly
speaking to represent the state and the
people. That is the best representa-
tive who best represents. The duties
OF a congressman may however be divid-
ed into two general classes. One, to
attend to the interests and matters OF
the nation as whole; and second, to
look after and attend to the interests and
matters particularly concerning his own
state and its people. This is union of
small republics. Each of these repub-
Mcs has interests of varied character, OF
ten distinct from that of any of its sister
republics, some times even at variance
with the wishes of one or more of the
other states. Individuals of the state have
interests of various kinds growing out of
official patronage or claims, or other
matters in the general government or
its many departments.
MIR. Johnson may bea great man in
the great questions of tariff, finance, and
seals, but we think the consensus OF
opinion in North Dakota, is that as hus-
tier for the state, for its individual peo-
pie, where anything has been wanted, he
has been a flat failure. Apparently he
has never been in good fellowship with
those in power and there has been a
continual disagreement between him
i. and Mr.. Hansbrough. Besides this, SO
far as our own personal experience goes
Mr.. Johnson has been apparently indif
} ferent to requests for information and
assistance and we have heard others
who give similar testimony. AS for in
, stance, Mr.. Hansbrough until the last
election had no particular reason iol
gratitude in this corner of the state,
, while Mr.. Johnson always received a
cordial support. Some six or seven
years ago the reservation of Fort Penn
bina, adjoining this city was abandoned
for military purposes. It is tract Of
land ofsthsee sections, half a section be-
ing timber and fronting on two rivers
with buildings that cost perhaps a hun.
!. Idred thousand dollars. The Business
Mems Association of this city asked the
State Board of Education to request our
congressman to introduce a bill Civ
ing the reservation to the state of North
!. Dakota to be sold as other school lands
and for the same purpose. The interest
of Pembina locally being that the then
. and now vacant lands be disposed OF to
actual residents as soon as possible.
|. while the interests of the state are mani.
: fest. Senator Hansbrough promptly
took the matter up and such bill was
passed in the senate, but it never went
any further on the road. Letters to
Mr.. Johnson on the subject remain un-
answered, personal conversation with
Mr.. Johnson on the subject has brought
no satisfactory answer. The state board
seems to have made no efforts since the
first. And the land that would yield at
i: least forty thousand dollars by sale for
the school fund of North Dakota, still
lies unproductive and untaxable by the
state. county and township, is unsettled
and waste, its buildings and timber be-
ing destroyed, making perhaps total
loss OF SIS 600, which to us seems might
have been had, or may yet be had, for
the asking. Mr.. Johnson as we said in
the beginning, is a fine speech-maker, is
good in glittering generalties, but isn't
$4,000 pretty large price to pay for
him?
j The writer as secretary of the Penn
bina Business Mems Union can vouch
for the facts stated in reference to the
Fort reservation and we give it as
an example of the difference between a
man who can't make much of speech
like Mr.. Hansbrough and of a man who
can make pretty good speech like Mr..
Johnson but don't appear to be worth
much at anything else.
i FOR SENATOR, j. LaMoURE.
i We have previously stated that while