The Bemidji pioneer., 1902-06-12
STEENERSON'S
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ANNOUNCEMENT

Hon. Halvor Steenerson of.
Crooston is also q candidate for.
congess in the new Ninth district.
He is well known to the majority
tof the PIONEER readers. The text
sof his announcement will serve
well to show where Mr.. Steener-
son is at. II reads as follows:
Hon. G. "a. Hitchcock, Central
G Committee, Crookston, Mimi, J,
and other Republican Voters Of
the Ninth Congressional Dis
trict: s.3
Gentlemen:-l have received
your communication requesting
me to announce myself as candi-
date for the republican nomina-
tion for congress at the ensuing
primary election in this district.
4 am deeply sensible to the high
compliment involved in such a re-
quest, because ii implies that my.
candidacy and eventual nomina-
tiOn and election would be in the.
interest Of good government, and
not the qualification of any mere
personal ambition on my part.
Many such requests have been re-
ceived from every section Of the
district, and I am disposed to be-
lieye that the same are entitled to
favorable consideration.
The caucus and delegate con-.
Yention system Of making nomina-
tions gave great scope to the ac-
tivities Of the professional politi-
clan and worker, SO that IN
many instances corrupt influences
and selfish interests dictated or
controlled nominations, making
parties obseryient to selfish schem-
ers instead Of to general welfare.
It was with a view to changing
these things that the primary law
was devised and adopted. ] have
never had much time nor any
taste for active participation in
primaries under the system re-
ferred to, and have generally con-
fined my political activities to ex-
pounding the principles Of the
party and supporting the candi-
dates selected. To say that the
new law will fall to accomplish
the reform it was designed to at
tain Is to doubt the public spirit
and intelligent patriotism Of the
people. [ believe that the people
ought to have the chance to select
for themselves the candidates Of.
respective parties which they be-
lieYe will be able to render them
the best service.
If your favorable opinion is not
wholly without basis, my. candi-
dacy ought not to require the car
rying on Of any active campaign
in its interest, The true theory
upon which anyone's candidacy
for such an Office can appeal to an
enlightened public opinion, Is that
his selection, oyer other aspirants,
would be in the interest Of the
people at large. In determining
such a question the patriotic voter
will lay aside his own selfish
interest as well as that Of the
aspirant, and look alone to the
general interests Of the people,
with the same sense Of duty as
when he casts his ballot at the
election. I do not mean by this
that I am Indifferent to the result
Of my proposed candidacy; on the
contrary, Notwithstanding the ac-
ceptance Of the Office would in
yolve a considerable business
sacrifice on my part, | am glad to
do SO if thereby / can have the
honor to serve and crafty the
wish Of a considerable number Of
nv fellow men, whose interest
and good opinion / value most
highly.
The time for conspicuous public
service in such a position was
never more favorable. The re-
publican party Of this nation since
its last restoration to power has
achieved the greatest success, per-
haps. in all It's eyentful history.
It solved the money question so
that it even satisfied its .oppon-
ents; re.established the vanished
prosperity upon broader and
firmer foundations than it ever
rested before, until our industries
and commerce SO flourish as to
dominate the world; it inaugura-
ted a war for humanity and
liberated Cuba, and after four
wears Of tu5elage set her upon her
feet as one of the free and inde-
pendent nations of the world. 1t
followed the wise course that
providence and logic events point
ed out in our new foreign rela.
tions and responsibilities, until
we have become the greatest pow
-. q =, onsr tho uationa and the In