The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1905-12-06
NORTH DAKOTA FACING A FIGHT.
ura Getting Ready for Attack on Conduct Of State Affairs by
Machne-Oppositon Republicans Expect to be Well
Organized for the Next State Contest

tons, ana his active hand in shaping
legislation. He has been generally dip
lomatic, however, has tied many men to
him with bonds of gratitude, and his
personality'and style of "good fellow
have made him host of friends among
politicians and business men. Small
politicians are always pleased to be
honored by constitution with him, and
his influence is stronger now among
the fellows" than it ever was.
The insurgents are going after Nc
kenzle, believing that he can be made
an issue. His personal interest in the
new capitol building is being dwelt
upon. The magazines are drawing con-
siderable attention to North Dakota
politics just now. The story of "The
Spoilers Just begun in Everybody's
and supposed to give the account of the
Nome episode will be read and talked
about in every county in the state
Appleton's Booklovers' magazine has
advertised series of articles by the
same author, Rev. E. Beach, who was at
Nome during the whole time. They will
begin in January, and will be entitled
"The Looting OF Alaska purporting to
give the true story of the same occur
rences, and to trace the connection of
members Of congress and prominent Of
ficials with the plot to dispossess miners
of their claims. These will of course
get the fullest attention from the in
lsurgent press of the state, and will be-
come part of the campaign literature
against the administration.
ACTIVITY OF THE MACHINE.
The machine leaders are saying very
little, and refuse to admit any alarm at
the prospect of fight. They say it will
be the same old story next year. How
ever, there are several elements of un-
certainty in the situation, of which they
have taken notice. The wave of reform
and revolt against boss control in
Pennsylvania and Ohio may spread and
even strike North Dakota, The machine
leaders say they are in entire sympathy
with the voters of the eastern states, and
that they had good canse to revolt. The
people of North Dakota have no such
provocation. However, the recent cleo
tons have caused them to sit up and
take notice. They are never caught
mapping, and will not be next year. The
newspaper enterprise at Grand Forks
shows that they appreciate the need OF
mouth piece that will hold up their
end in the northern section against Gee.
B. Winship and the Herald Other
newspaper dealers are being arranged
over the state.
The primary election law, which is
another uncertainty, calls for plenty OF
newspaper support, and as for as that is
concerned the machine will have all the
best Of it when the campaign warns up
sPALD1NG IS ENLISTED.
The insurgents have one powerful
leader this time, who has never given
them much help before. B. F. Spaldlng
turned down in such chilly fashion last
year at Grand Forks, has volunteered
bis best efforts in the anti-campaign.
He has already made one brief "trip over
the state looking the ground over, and
at the meeting of the executive COM
mittee held November II at Grand
Forks, made favorable report on the
outlook The machine leaders will not
admit that Spalding has much influence
and say that his lack of personal mag
netism and ability as tinker" is res
ponsible for his being left out. It is
true, however, they Spalding was never
,, while in congress subject to dictation,
ard that he was out of favor with the
other leaoers from that fact. 1t is also
true that he has great many friends
and admirers ia the state, and has q
considerable influence. 1 have found
men who are local leaders, who have
generally trained the machine, who are
ready to 60 with the insurgents out of
friendship for Spalding. They say he
was ill-used and has right to be sore.
Spaldirg declares that he is not now
candidate for Office, and that the insur-
gent leaders sre none of them office
seekers. They will have candidates to
present at the proper time, but those
who have taken the burden of the fight
will not ask for rewards.
No one is in hurry to begin the real
fight. North Dakota is too busy making
money and realizing from its great crop
to be in any mood for politics now. The
primary law -defers the actual fight,
which used to come early in May, until
late in June. After the holidays people
will have more leisure however, and will
begin to read and talk politics. A little
later on the rival organizations will open
up the fight, and it will be spectacular
affair. II present indications are any
criterion, the fur is going to fly all over
North Dakota.-Ex.