The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1906-05-17
1.-THE SPEECH OF HONORABLE B. F. SPALDING
At the Opening Of the Ward County Campaign Delivered
the Mnot Opera House, Saturday, April 2Sth 1906

Campaign, Delivered at the Minot Opera
feel compelled crticise or censue influential citizens or
ecias OF state 1t would give far greater pleasure
to commend Them but there times when criticism is
necessary and when the people entitled to the facts
Igarding administration public office and the public record
of those who seek to retain Office and believe this such
time There is national campaign; the only campaign
involves state Offices and state policies and plain
honesty.
Almost since statehood, three four have con-
troed the nominations both of the Republican and Demo
cratic parties of this state They have also controlled the
ELECTIONS because repeatedly although claiming be Re-
publicans they have defeated reputable and regular
republican nominees In election they defeated Mr.
Eggen Republican nominee for the Legislature in Fargo
with a Democrat. They defeated Mr. Hunt, regular
Republican nominee for the Legislature from Rolee county,
with Democrat They defeated Republican nominee
for the Legislature in Bismarck with Democrat, and
wared him with of the best Federal appointments in
1.-THE State. might show you that the methods have
been pursued in many of the legislative districts of the state
wherever Republican nominees we're not amendabe to
their dictaton
In campaign, the Republican candidate for Cover.
told that Senator Hansbrough and Mr. Alexander
Mckenzie demanded that he allow them the persons
Ito be appointed to office by him. and threatened him with
their opposition and that they would support Democrat
If he did not accede. A Democrat elected
am told that the demand made of pres
ent governor the evening before his nomination. that his
reply that he thought he ought to be allowed to
his private secretary.
With this exception he is reported to have acceded
their demands and many people question whether he did
name his private secretary have list OF the officers
which they to be allowed to fila list which wrote
card the evening before the last state convention All
the appointments made wrote them that list
with two EXCEPTIONS In the candidate they
promised it to him. Their reply is in substance that they
only srnging" him to get the votes of his delega
tion In the other the Legislative delegation from the
county in which the candidate resided withdrew his
from the consideration of the governor
not contending that the governor other public
officials should consult his constituents and the leaders
his party and consider suggestions made but must be
humating indeed to be SO anxious to secure public
office abrogate the rights duties and privileges per-
tanning that Office set of political ADVENTURES who
like the hghwayman, order hands up"
The officials Of this state have been named by what is
which are Mr. Alexander Mckenzie national committeeman
United States Senator Hanbrough State Senator Judson
LaMoure and few of their strikers They have often
been named in defiance of the wishes of the Republican
voters of the State They have often named men unheard
candidates for any office prior to the convention At
the convention of 1900 the whom the people had
repudated nominated in the face of the strongest
sentiment demanding the nomination of Mr.. George B..
Winshp They we'll aware Of his weakness that
they secured his decnaton after the convention had ad
journed in fact have always thought they secured it
before he was nominated The body Of the document
in typewrtng; the date written with pen Had he
remained the ticket at least portion of the ticket would
have met defeat Such instances numerous
How do they do this? l will tell you. The business
of these politics from the beginning to the end Of
the year. They in touch with corrupt politician
the state they know the of every ambitious
If they cannot influence him they know who They
pick candidates who will be susceptible to their dictates
and promise them support each will his county
delegation Then they call in these candidates Of their
selection few days before the convention meets and
they get enough Of them together each controlling the
delegation of his county which has been instructed for
him. to form combination and control the convention
any candidate is obnoxious to them if any candidate
represents the voters of the State who demand clean
political methods and honest administration, they
notify their candidates that they must not unite with
him.
The different delegations arrive at the of the
convention at late hour. Each candidate informs his
delegation that he is safe that combination has been
made which takes him in and that all they have to do is to
for the combination If any delegation Objects it is
informed by it's candidate that has been instructed for