The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-11-20
PLAYING POLITICS.

II is evident to an outside observer
that some of the warmest politics that
have ever been played in the state
are on tap now In reference to the
judgeship in the First judicial district.
II is we'll known fact that The
Evening Times was not supporter
of Judge Fisks candidacy and it can
not therefore be accused of being an
apologist for him. But in justice to
him this paper desires to state that it
does not believe ne is personally
responsible for the scramble which is
being made to convert the vacancy
which will follow his elevation to the
supreme bench into partisan pie.
Unfortunately he is the victim of
political circumstances over which he
is unable to exercise any control.
Nothing is more reasonable than that
he should accept the vacancy on the
supreme bench caused by the resigna-
ton of Judge Knauf. The work of
the court is being delayed and it is
certain that nothing will be done un.
til Judge Engerud is appeased in his
political wrath. The man who does
not prefer to see the work of the court
SO handled that it will not injure the
rights of iitigants rather than that
few politicians should handle the
judgeship for their own personal ends.
is indeed unpatriotic. Men may differ
in politics and may contend even to
the point of bitterness in behalf of
what they advocate, but no man or no
party can afford to destroy the useful
Hess OF the supreme court Of his state
merely to accomplish partisan end.
Judge Fisk is so situated that he is
compelled TO give the outside world
the impression that he is doing this.
But it will be found that he is between
two fires. On one hand is his desire
to do that which is best for the court
and the state. On the other are the de-
mands of those whu claim to be re-
sponsible for his election. They want
the judgeship and they fear to allow
the appointment to be made before
the new governor assumes Office lest
they may not be able to land it.
1t looks to an outsider that these
aspiring politicians are determined
that Governor Burke and Judge Fisk
are to pay political debts with the
,judgeship. To accept the supreme
icourt appointment at this time would
give his friends the chance to say that
Judge Fisk had played with the hands
of what they call the state machine,
while refusal to do so would
have the appearance Of using tn.
judgeship for the .ankest partisan
purposes. These ere circumstances
which have arisen and over which
Judge Fisk seemingly has no control
There is but one way out Of the
predicament and that is for the can.
iidates who are so hungry that they
are willing that every claim they made
during the campaign should be giver
the lie, to accept the condition which
common sense dictates as the solu
ton of the trouble, and allow Judge
Fisk to go on the supreme bench.
The Grafton News and Times, on,
of the leading democratic papers O
the state, wants The Evening Time.
to explain why wheat is two or three
cents cheaper in Canada than it i.
ia the states. This is one OF tae things
which do not need an explanation. L
is fact. 1t is evident that the cause
of the difference is that we have
larger and better market for this pro
duct than have the farmers across tn.
line. II is for this reason that it !.
desired to keep the republican tariff
SO high on wheat that the product O
the states will not be brought into T;
leveling process with that of our Can
adian neighbors If the price there i,
lower and the tariff wall is torn dowr
so that both products will find tn.
same market. it is evident that thu
price of our own will go down while
that of the Canadians will go up. Thi.
is the only result of the equalizint
process the democrats in congress are
seeking. 1t may be selfish position
but The Evening Times stands fol
good prices for the farmers of this state
rather than lowering 1t for the bene
fit of those who have chosen to live