Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1899-01-06
WHAT JOHNSON HAS DONE FOR
SCANDINAVIANS.

SCANDINAVIANS.
The matter of the scnatorship should
be settled upon the merits of the candi.
dates. That alone should determine the
selection Of the assembly. ConSidera,
lions of nationality should not enter into
it-for in the assembly all are American
citiZcns-whatcvcr the circumstances OF
descent. There is no sturdicr element in
the state than the Scandinavians, and
none which, through native shrcwdncss
and qualifications, comes more quickly
to the front upon its mcrits-without
necessity OF rcsorting to the issue of
nationality.
In the candidacy of Mr.. johnson for
senate, it is taken for granted by that
gentleman that the Scandinavian Gle
ment is for him, because it has been his
attitude always that all Scandinavians
must do homage to him, as the Scandi-
navian leader, and that none other must
come up for prefcrmcnt where his po-
litical ACKNOWLEDGEMENT might be impcril-
led. In caucus and convention and as
sembly he has taken for granted that
representatives of his nationality must
be for him.
In this connection the TRIBUNE has IL
personal letter from a leading Scandina-
Wan of the state, who, in referring to the
scnatorship, makes some comments
which are pertinent as to his past and
present attitude toward the Scandina-
Wan element which he has always in
sisted as his following, to the exclusion
of all other considerations. Tho portion
of the letter in question is as follows:
1t is supposed by 4 great many men,
bers and outsiders that because IA mem
Der Of the legislature is of Scandinavian
birth or descent he is bound to be for Nj.
N. johnson for senator. ! am Il Scandi-
navian by birth and am opposed to his
candidacy for the following reason. Mr..
Johnson's political career has been detri-
mental to the best political interests of
our nationality in the state. Every man
of Scandinavian birth in the state with
any political ambition has had to take a
back seat to give room to his towering
ambition. His policy seems to have
been to nip in the bud the aspirations of
any Scandinavian who showed his head
over the common level. Flittie Hedge
son, Wamberg, Slotten Tofthagen, each
in turn had to curb their ambition to
give room to his s%elfishness. His effort
has been to center all political effort
among his countrymen into an effort to
boost himself. What has he done for us
in turn? Helgeson lost a renomi-
nation to a second term for e~spousing
Johnson's cause, and he was a good
official, bright man and creditable repre-
sentative of u nationality. Wamberg
saved the republican party an electoral
vote in 81 but there was no room for
future recognition rs johnson was al
ways the first consideration. Tofthagen
who used to carry Nelson county-which
johnson cannot--is evidently properly
shelved-and so in numerous other
cases. What our nationality has got of
recognition we got from the other side.
Simons, Erickson and Halland got their
nominations in spite of NJ. N. Johnson's
efforts. I. E. Shelley got the register
ship at Devils Lake against the man
recommended by the congressman. Sat
terlund, Serumgard and Lindstrom were
all appointed through the efforts of Sen
ator Hansbrough and the only person of
our nationality who secured anything
from the efforts of NJ. N. Johnson is
DISCARD of the Minot land office and it is
generally understood that this was done
to get his brother at Fargo out of an un-
desirable partnership. The only other
Norwegian he has attempted to push to
the front is his brothcr-for the land Of
flee at Fargo. 1t may be argued that
this is office seekers argument. I will
answer that it was taught me by NJ. N.
johnson who in his speech at his Hotel
Dacotah headquarters in,1S9O gave memo
better justification for his candidacy for
congress against H. G. H%ansbrough who
had then held only one term, than that
Observation-Disclosures him theGrahd
Forks land office. [ find this to be true.
1t is better for our people if We can keep
the nationality issue in the back ground.
We generally get the recognition our
ability entities US to if we, ourselves,
Go not provoke the nationality issue. We
should get all the rights our American
citizenship entities us to-no more--no
less. no matter where we or our fore
fathers were born. The quicker the
nationality issue is dropped the better
for us and he is Il poor friend of his
c%onntrymen who keeps it alive. 1t is
humiliating to nc to hear every member
with a Scandinavian name conceded to
johnson as Il matter OF course. IT is
not correct and should not be. 1t is Just
as ~un-American us a solid South and it
rests with us Scandinavian members to
retire it as that is being retired.
No doubt some ambitious legislator
seeking fame with his constituency and
glory as a savior of the states revenues
will acSay this wiptc. III, -, e :,