The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1904-10-05
Editor Independent:

Editor independent:
Allow me to say a few words
thru your paper regarding an
article appearing in the Optic.
First the Optic tries to belittle
me by trying to convey the idea
that some one else than myself
has been writing my articles in
the Independent and consequent
ly that | am only a tool of,some-
one. The Optic being themouth-
piece of a few politicians, evident
ly imagines that everyone elsefis
the same and that no free men
exist. y;
Now will publish an affidavit
as to who is writing my articles
and prove the insinuations OF the
Optic is a falsehood. Aud | defy
the Optic to prove the contrary,
Next the Optic says that was a
candidate for state senator be-
fore the Murphy convention.
This | deny. was u candidate
before the regular Republican
county convention OF Ward
county and as | had no good
reason to bolt said convention,
| remained in the same until it
adjourned. The name Murphy
convention" is something which
has originated in the narrow
brains in some enemies TO the
regular Republicans. We may
Just as well call the boiling con-
vention. the ''Roach ""Sanborn,'
or "McGahan'' convention if you
like the last name would perhaps
be the most appropriate. But |
for my own part had a number
of delegates in the boiling con-
vention, | have from the dele
gates themselves. And | have
good reason to believe them, and
l am sure they would have sup
ported me had not the conven-
ton been split. | do not blame
the delegates because a majority
OF them could not see thru the
trick but ! do blame the leaders
of the clique in Minot Next the
Optic claims that | tried very
hard to form a combination with
the re-organizers. This | brand
as a falsehood. But it is true the
re-organizers tried very hard to
form a combination with me. !
never asked any Of the leaders OF
the re-organizers for their sup
port. But the same leaders we're
anxious to supportme. Amongst
other things | was offered the
support Of state treasurer pro
| viding | would withdraw asstate
senator. This | refused. l was
at another time offered their
support for the office of county
treasurer. proviping l wanted to
withdraw as state senator.
then pressed the question, why
did the re-organizers have SC
much objection to me, assenator.
/ was then told that the railroad
companies were against me, and
that the railroad companies
wanted legislators. l will let
the honest thinking readers draw
their own conclusions, as to whom
lit was that wanted to form com
binations. will make an afida,
Wit to the truth Of this any time
1t is plain enough that the rail
road and corporation interests
had to be taken care of. The
interest OF the general public
those fellows care nothing about
| All they want of the people ar,
their votes, and anything els
they can get out OF them. Le'
me here say that the Optic tries
to make it appear that it is tn
delegates l put the blame on
This is now SO. | think the ma
jority OF the delegates are homes
and the people also. 1t is thos
who worked inside the ring / la,
the blame on. That is anyon
who thinks my articles fits then
may put them on. You can sticl
it in your hat as a fact that tn
railroad companies have no Oh
jections to the nominees OF tn
re-organizers for the Legislature
They will be good Legislators 10
the railroad company anyway
The Optic also claims that
know the delegates OF the re
organizers were kept out by force
| 1t is true that all Of the delegate
were requested to file their ere
dsntials and comply with the cal
| of the central committee befor
they would be admitted to tn
convention. This, some of tn
delegates refused to do, and {
number of them wanted to fore
themselves in. At that DOint q