The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-04-23
tBy a stan Correspondence

(By a STAFF Correspondence
There is plenty of food for thought
for the student of politics in the meet
ing of the state central committee of
this state at Fargo last Saturday.
There was much more to be gathered
than the mere meeting of the COM
mittee. for the work before it, while
important. was somewhat formal. 1t
was what the men gathered from every
county of the state. and meeting for
the first time before the coming state
campaign, thought of the condition and
prospects that made the gathering of
more than ordinary interest.
The first thing that strikes the seek
er after political truth on the condi-
ton of the republican party in the
state is that there is an infinitismal
small amount of party disruption SEN
timent to be found throughout the
state: this statement does not imply
that there is no such thing as mem
bers of the party who are affiliated
with what is designated as the in
surgents. for there are members of the
republican party-members of the
state central committee-who advo-
cate change in men. But the crowd
who believes the state has been "loot-
ed" by those who have served the
public in high places of trust and
who believe both it and the people
would go to the damnition bow vows
If there is not change of leadership,
are confined to decidedly narrow
limits
Let me cite an illustration of this
condition. Fargo is the home of Mr..
SI>1y nj NJ HYa
leader of the rule or ruin element.
He is a lawyer Of prominence and in
private life man of unblemished
character. and has lived in the city
for more than twenty years. 1t is
fair to infer from these conditions that
if his connection with the present in
surrection in the republican party
would arouse any enthusiasm any
where, Fargo would be the place.
1t has been stated that the recent
municipal campaign in the city showed
the overwhelming sentiment of the
city against the insurgents. This may
or may not be true, for the best test
Of the matter is the sentiment and
judgment of the business men of the
city-men who are not professional
politicians and who look at party poll
tics as they do at their business Care
full inquiry among these by stranger
whose politics and factional afiilia-
tions were to them absolutely I'M
known, failed to disclose a single man
who would support Mr.. Spalding and
the insurgent faction in It's fight to
secure control of the party.
Ask these people reason for their
position they, in nine cases in ten will
tell you that what this state needs in
its administration are business men
and business methods. not politics and
hungry scramble for the loaves and
fishes. One of these men, in talking
on this matter said he could not be
convinced that there was anything in
the present reform" except the desire
to secure Offices. He cited the present
superintendent of public instruction
as an example. "If the present lead
ers of the republican party in this
state are responsible for the evils as
they say, they must also be response
BILE for the good. and so long as they
give the state such executives as the
present enc and such educators as the
one we have. the people who have the
interest of the state at heart and who
have no axes to g$ind. need not be
ashamed of giving them their hearty
support"
Another gentleman standing by,
added that it seemed very peculiar
that the insurgents would jump at the
chance to get Mr.. Stockwell to become
their candidate for governor, and that
he failed to see what reform there
was In the insurgents giving the state
a man for governor that the gang"
had repeatedly given it for superinten-
dent of public instruction.
Here is another story told by a bust
ness man. as joke, but which he de-
clared was true. and it is reported
for what it is worth. At the time the
insurgents met behind closed doors in
Fargo. they decided they needed an
organ-with apologies to the Herald
the sum of $3.50. IAN effort was made
to raise the money to make the pur-
chase but it could not be done.
The method of conducting the de-
alterations of the committee was SO
marked in its contrast with the meth
DDS Of the insurgents as to incite much
unfavorable comment upon the latter.
The meeting Saturday was open to all
who came, and while the determine
ton of the business was left entirely
to the members of the committee no
republican was stopped from Offering
advice or making suggestions. In fact,
a majority of the talking was done by
those who were not members of the
committee. No guard stood at the
door to see that none entered save the
elect The press had every facility pos
sible shown it and there was no at
tempt or desire on the part of the Or
ganizatiOn to hide a single act from
the people of the state.
This is certainly contrast from the
methods pursued by the insurgents at
the meeting of their committee last
winter, the history of which is yet
fresh in the minds Of the people of the
state. There Is a difference it is true
In the two organizations, but those
who charge that the present organiza-
ton of the party ip the state is the
political evil which they seek to re-
form, and that the party government
is gang" administration, certainly
have little to their credit in the COM
parisOn. It Is we'll to bear in mind
too, that while there we're members of
the committee who sympathize with
the insurgent movement, there was
not single thing done by the COM
mittee against which they had reason
to raise single objection. This is
certainly an indication that the ma
chinery Of the party in the state is not
manipulated in the interest of any
man or political clique.
In politics. 1t must be remembered,
that one robin does not make spring
that the opinion Of one man in q
community does not indicate the politi-
cal situation. One man may be able
to tell what the sentiment of his COM
,munity u, and II he Is conservative