The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-08-15
INDICATIONS POINT TO INTEREST
ING CAMPAIGN IN NORTH
DAKOTA
FUSIOXIST STOCK is RISING
REPUBLICANS MAY WIN, BUT A
HARD FIGHT Is AHEAD
OF THEM
RULE OR RUIN IS THEIR MOTTO
Gang That Is In the Ascendency
Shows InOrdinate Greed for SpOiIs
and Omce-M. A. HiIdreth
Strong Candidate.

JAMESTOWN, N. D., Aug 14-(Spe-
cial)-This promises to be the most in
teresting campaign ever held in North
Dakota. Old Republican war horses who
In years past laughed at the idea of sue
cess Of the independent Democratic tick
ct, grow serious when discussing the sit
uation of this year, and are free to ad-
NIT that, though victory may be with
the Republicans, they will have the fight
of their life in securing 1t. With the Re-
publican party disrupted as never before,
the Fusionists may well take heart. The
trouble with the Republican party in
North Dakota is that it is controlled by
a gang whose motto Is rule or ruin. This
gang is of recent formation, and is, if
anything, more disreputable than the
old gang which made an attempt to run
things at the Grand Forks nominating
convention, and did not succeed. The
greed for Office and spoils brought about
battle for supremacy between the two
wings of the party, with the result that
the younger element was victorious. But
in that victory the populous districts of
the state were left without representa-
ton, and the central and western portion
carried Off the lions share. While an at
tempt is being made to make 1t appear
that there will be no cutting of the tick
ct by Republicans in the Red river val
ley, there is no question but that this will
be the case.
INDEPENDENT HARMONY.
In marked contrast to the Republican
state convention was that held by the
Independent Democratic party. No gang
was represented there. but delegates who
proposed to put up a ticket satisfactory
to the party. The ticket nominated is
one Of the best the voters of the state
have been called upon to consider. The
offices are evenly distributed--each Sec
tion of the state being represented-and
the candidates are above reproach. They
are capable. as is admitted by the
Republican press generally. and would
give the state q clean, business admin
istration, unhampered by a gang. NJ. A.
Hildreth, the candidate for congress
against Banker Marshall. of Cakes, is
lawyer Of prominence. a veteran of the
Philippine war, and a man popular in
his home county. which. it is predicted,
he will carry by a sweeping majority.
He will be supported by a number of
Republican newspapers who are opposed
TO gang rule in politics. For governor
Max Wipperman. Of Richland. Is growing
steadily III popularity. He is a man
who will see that the laws of the state
are enforced, and will be his own mas
ter, unhampered by bosses should he be
ca1o fa1 TO o1,ga
ecutive of the state Attorney Carmody.
Of Traill it is admitted by Republicans,
is likely to defeat Comstock. of Benson
county, for the office of attor-
ney general. Comstock is a weak
candidate. The fusion candidate
has all the qualifications necessary,
and Is a popular man. He has the sup
port of the Prohibiuonists and lawabiding
citizens who want a man elected who
will look more closely to the prosecu-
ton Of liquor sellers. The present Of
fetal. Mr.. Cowan. has not the approval
of the Prohibtionists. who object to his
manner of attending to his duties-or
rather not attending to the same.
STATES Bills UNPAID.
Many voters who have noticed that,
Notwithstanding the claim of there being
plenty Of funds in the state treasury,
bills go unpaid for many months at a
time, and the members of the teaching
force of the state educational institutions
who have to wait for their pay indefin-
itely. wonder where the money is tied
up, and would also like some explanation
of the manner in which the state school
fund has been disposed Of A few all
legged explanations of the disposition of
the school fund have been made but
the voters are dissatisfied and believe that
the only way to clear up the matter Is 10
elect men beyond the control of the gang
With state money drawing interest fo1.
some one in the banks. it STANDS to reason
that there is rake-off somewhere. or
the mo funds" sign would not be out so
often.
The old game of placing the blame of
the extravaganza of a Republican legis-
lature on the only Populist governor the
state has ever had. is again being at
tempted, but the voters cannot be fooled
all the time. The bankrupt condition OF
the state when Gov Shortridge took Of
fice together with unusually heavy an
preparations, made by the legislature,
brought about q condition which his adj
ministration had no power to prevcnt.
But the object Of the Republicans had
been accomplished. and the fact was
widely heralded then and since that
time that the states financial condition
was due to PoDulist extravaganza. The
Republicans will have plenty to do If all
the deals of recent years are explained.
FINANCIAL CONDITION.
There is little use of attempting to de-
ceive the voters as to the financial condi-
ton OF the state at this time. State
Treasurer DriscolPs semi-annuaf report
shows that there is but little In the
treasury. The general fund has but
about $S,OOO on hand, and an attempt is
made to deceive the public by adding
something like sS5,OOO 'In suspended
banks" to this amount. The state treas
urer failed to explain one important fact
In his statement-why state warrants
were left unpaid If there is really a bar
ance In the state fund. The statement
is timely one, showing as 1t does how
commonwealth may be looted and but
little protest made by the taxpayers. The
financial condition Of the state is wen
known by those who are employed in any
of the state Institutions and no amount
Of figures showing a balance on the
right side can deceive them.
There are numerous troubles in the
Republican camp. Winship, of the Grand
Forks Herald, is disgruntled. as is also