The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1906-10-25
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| A prominent republican attorney Of
Grand Forks said to the Press reporter
today:
| alexander Mckenzie, the man who
physically towers above his fellow
men,the man who for years has been
the boss of the republican gang in
North Dakota; the man who was long
ago an object Of disgrace, has just
about lost control of the party, and is
making last effort to keep in pow
err. Realizing that the convention sys
] tenn Of nominating candidates on the
state ticket must go. and that with
this goes his power, he and his friends
are making one Of the strongest eff
forts to retain supremacy that has
ever been put forth.
"At the republican convention held
, in jamestown last June, resolution
was adopted favoring the nomination
of candidates on the state ticket by
direct vote of the people at primary
election. The republicans promised
to pass such law at the next session
Of the legislature. With the passing
of this law would go the bossism of
Mckenzie and his colleagues, and the
people would again rule.
| But Mckenzie is not going to let
the primary law pass through the leg
islature and remain in force if he can
| help it. The law will no doubt pass
the legislature, but a fight would be
made by the gang bosses to have it
declared unconstitutional. What, then
| is needed to accomplish this end and
defeat the will Of the people.
"Among the candidates nominated
was John knauf, of Jamestown, for
the supreme court. Directly following
the nomination, a storm of protest
came from the people. Associate JUS
tice Engerud stated at once that he
! would not sit on the bench with Knauf
and said he would resign. A session
of the supreme court was held since
the convention and Knauf, appointed
by Governor Sarles, took his seat on
the bench. Justice Engerud of Fargo
did not. Several days after the court
adjourned the Fargo judge issued a
statement to the effect that he would
never sit on the bench with knauf,
and that if he should be elected at the
November election. that he. E.ngerud,
would at once resign.
The election Of Knauf this fall
would mean the resignation Of Enge-
rud, and While never stated publicly.
Chief Justice Morgan of Devils Lake
would also resign. This would leave
two appointments for the governor to
make.
with their appointment the gang
would have control of the supreme
court of North Dakota. 1t would be
! court without Independence servilc
court-obedient to every behest Of its
creator-a sort of a political board
with unlimited power to do the bid
ding Of Alexander Mckenzie.
Then. with a court bound to do
| that which the gang demands, the
| primary election law. which is certain
to be passed at the legislative session
this winter, will be taken up before
TIE COURT IL Will De uecldIeu uHcOH-
stitutional the convention system of
nominating candidates would continue
and Mckenzie would have perpetual
control Of the republican party of
North Dakota. Other laws would be
brought up in the same manner. Who
knows but what even now, there is
framed up another capital commission
bill to be presented at the 1907 legis-
lature. It's passage, if it could be
managed, would mean that the people
Of North Dakota would be robbed
out of many thousands of dollars. The
people of the state could take the
law up before the supreme court. But
what good would that de-? A court
made by and for the gang would de-
clare the law constitutional, and the
people would have to smile and bear
it. Other laws of equal importance
to North Dakota could be taken up in
the same manner and in every case
the will CT the gang would be done,
and in every case the will of the gang
would be done, and Mckenzie would
still be boss.
This is the most serious question
that has ever confronted the people Of
North Dakota. The liberty and right
of the people depend on the election
Of Fisk for the supreme bench. Bad
enough it is to have the ordinary Of
fees filled by nominees of the bosses
without having the judicial offices
degra ded in the same manner to the
ever lasting shame of the fairest state
in the Union.