Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-09-18
REASONS FOR REPUBlICANIsM
Hon R Stevens Replies to Charge Of John Burke that
He fOrsOOk Democracy for Office

were members of like committee
from South Dakota. They were all
democrats. II appeared as a republi-l
can before chairman Springer's COM
mittee and before the senate commit
tee on territories OF which Senator
Plat of Connecticut was chairman,
and presented a memorial that had
been prepared by the North Dakota
committee before my departure, which
memorial; was, on motion Of Senator
Plat made in open senate, printed as
a public, document. After the passage
Of the Enabling Act I was elected as a
Republican member of the constitu-
ltional convention, and since the adj
mission Of the state / have served as
republican in more than one session
of the legislature. = Z !.
! II nave voted for the election OF
every republican who has been elected
to the United States senate from the
state of North Dakota, and while / am
accused by the honorable, gentleman
Of having changed my politics to gain
official positions i have never served
in position, with the exception Of
thirty days which l served as legal
expert in the department of agricuI-
ture on the subject of irrigation
Through the procurement or endorse
ment of a United States senator from
~ sstl LIE =
North Dakota. # =,
81 have never served as appointee
i of a governor or state officer Of this
Estate In any position previous to NV
i present appointment of Assistant At
i torney General, and for that appoint
3 ment, am, SO far as Z know, not in
4 debted to any senator, congressman,
h governor. state officer, except Attor-
j ney General Erich, or the Republican
machine. whoever that may, be. TO
J, lmy knowledge, and with this record
J, lit seems to me 1t comes with poor
: Egrace from the democratic candidate
i for governor to accuse me of having
{ changed my politics to gain political
: preferment Two years ago I favored
} a primary election law and in accord
l. ance with the republican platform Of
To-day / am in favor of such amend.
) ments or an enactment of a new law
) upon the subject as viii be Of bene.
81 fit to the people Of the state Of North
, Dakota. -. Il s5 /. -s.t e.
) / And why should not every man who
J has been democrat change his
: politics and: become a}republican? &,
] After the war and up to Cleveland's
y second election the democratic party
) had at no time been III absolute legis
Z llatiVe control Of the government
Nearly every democrat had been kept
5 ffaithtful to his party by the deIusive
i promise Of what they would do when
4 I'm supreme power. The roseate line
I'll with which the pronunciation Of every
S democratic convention had beer
i tinted had only strengthened the be
q lief of the democratic voter that theil
& supremacy in the councils Of the IA
+ ton meant what they were pleased Il
i term esrhe good old DAYS vs. before The
Z war; which we ais republicans know
were never good days. M $5S5:5
Il They knew at the close Of the s Re
d publican administration times We I'll,
Vi good; money easy; people prosperou,
v and happy, the national debt fas
d melting under the beaming rays Of r
], publican supremacy, every Gimme,
Ii ichoked with smoke, ever shumming !,
d merry song, every furnace blazing, \,
Z merry ring Of hammers and anvil
I. from every shop, the water passin,
i over every. dam utilized to good en-
Il ployment 81 willing hands, the ste
M of every business man elastic Wit
d energy and hustle and business ente,
i prise. and the country iii general Il
,fI 4 happier and more prosperous conud
M tion than it had ever been before