The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-11-25
n. DAKOTA POLITICS
OF HANSBROUGH's TARIFF
TALK
WOOL THE SENATOR'S HOBBY
As Matter of Fact, However,
Practically No Sheep Arc
Raised in the
State.
Special to The Globe.

seem to take well in his state. Hans
brougk has always been an enthusiast On
the subject of protected wool. He has
been n protectionist along general lines,
but as wool was about the only product OF
North Dakota the price of which could
be shown to be directly enhanced by
means of protective duties, he has work.
ed the wool question to the limit. There
has been little tariff talk during the past
few years, but when this question was
the one uppermcst in the political arena
Senator Hansbrough habitually waxed
eloquent on the subject of wool. He has
not forgotten his text, for in his article
of a few weeks ago he again made ref
erence to the fact that the farmers Of
his state could not afford to place wool
on the free list.
AS a matter of fact the majority or
the people of North Dakota do not raise
sheep, even after several years OF pro-
lection With the exception of WOOL the
products of the state are nearly all con-
tributions to the eXportable surplus OF
the United States, and are therefore az
$ected by the tariff only in roundabout
way, if at all The tendency of the peo-
pie is therefore to look with consider
able favor on any plan which will tend
to reduce duties SO long as their political
perceptions are not interfered with.
It may be on this account that the SEN
ator did T he Clio be the honor of
singing it out in a recent editorial as the
sole opponent of his policy Of mastery
inactivity with reference to the tariff, lS-
noring the fact that criticisms as severe
had come from the papers representing
his own party. If dyed-in-the- wool Re
publicans can be induced to believe that
the demand for tariff revision comes from
the Democrats it is evidently his hope
that they will refuse to be led aStray
thereby. But he is likely tc have hard
work to convince his constituents that
they are being led aStray by Democratic
organs, for the outside papers circulate
freely in North Dakota, and most of the
people are able to read them in the orig
inal. In addition to this is the fact to
which reference has been made before,
that nearly all of the papers of his state
which have spoken at all have opposed
his attitude, and even his colleague in the
lower house, Representative Marshall,
has mildly put himself on record as of
the opinion that the senator is mistaken.
One of the old-ti political leaders of
the state about whom there is very little
heard in connection with politics just
now is Col. w. Fl. Robinson, of Mayville.
The colonel has been an influential man
in the politics of the state for many
years, has been member of state and
national committees, chairman of the
former, manager of personal campaigns,
and has even tried his hand at the news
paper business. Just before the cam
paign Of 1896 he purchased controlling
interest in the Fargo Argus, and was re-
sponsibie for it's management during that
campaign. He quit as soon after the
campaign as he could find anyone to
take the lead off his shoulders, and
found himself plus good deal of expe-
rience, which was not readily convertible
into cash, and minus a portion of his
bank account. However, the colonel is a
wealthy man, and probably cid not mind
the expense.
He was the manager of the senatorial
campaign of M N. Johnson during the
session of 1899, and it is the opinion of
many that if he had been permitted to
take charge at an earlier date he might
have been successful. Over year ago
he was appointed post trader at Fort
Yates, and is understood to have an eX-
cellent thing. He has the habit of drop
ping SO completely out of politics between
campaigns, and devoting himself so thor
oughly to the management of his large
business interests that people are apt to
forget that he is still in the state. From
this condition of forgetfulness they are
Usually aroused quite early in the even
numbered years to find that the colonel
as very much alive, and very much in
politics. So far as known he has no am
bition to hold office, and he would prob
ably not surrender the profitable position
that he holds for the sake of an elective
ONCE. If he should take it into his head,
however, to be a candidate FOR congress,
for instance, he would keep the other
candidates busy heading him off, and
they would all know that there had been
something doing.
In North Dakota; as in most other
states, there is primary election law
Which is intended in a general way to
govern the action of political parties in
the nomination of their candidates for
office This law is of comparatively re-
cent date. Under the old system which
prevailed there were some fearful and
wonderful conventions. There was moth
ing in the way of legal regulation Of the
action OF political parties, each party be.
ing law unto itself.
One of the politicians of the old regime
told few days ago of a campaign il
which he and his friends sought to ac-
compllSh certain objects, and for the &C.
complishment of their purposes it was
necessary that they should control a con.
Vention. The population was sparse an6
what few people there were in the vicin.
ity were busy. But primaries must be
AClOt anu llSlu they were. i WO or IhcG(
of the conspirators started out acros:
country, and proceeded to hold primaries
Wherever they could find man of the
right persuasion who could be used fol
the purpose they would elect him chair
man or clerk of his precinct, secure hi
signature to the credentials of a list O
delegates, and drive on to hold a smilal
primary in another place. When tn,
convention was held there were two set.
of delegates. and in spite of contest,
enough of those who Were chosen in tni
off-hahd way were seated to secure tn,
favorable action Of the convention on thu
question at ISSUE
Under the present law there Is it'll,
likelihood that primaries will be held /,
this manner But the manipulation O
Conventions has been reduced to a scienc
so perfectly that it is easy to steer thu
delegates into paths never dreamed O
by the people who elected them Th
conditions in North Dakota are peculiar
The population of the state is small, an,
the list of officeholders large in proper
ton. There is scarcely subject whicl
affects public matters in any way wEic
does not have a direct influence on tn
chances of some man for Office. the al
Is surcharged with political feeling. an
the statement that Is frequently mad
that there is more politics to the squar
inch in North Dakota than In any othe
state is literally true. Because Of thi
there is more temptation than usual t
manipulate conventions, and as there ar