The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-04-16
4 POLITICAL COMPARISON

might DE truthfully said that the
political situation in this state in re-
gard to the primary law has striking
familiarity with the Wisconsin law.
In Wisconsin there is not so much
republican and a democratic party
striving over the highest seats Of
public Office, as two factions of one
party more bitterly and unscupuously
opposed to each other, than republican
and democrat ever were. In Wiscon-
sin are the Stalwarts, headed by such
renowned and able statesmen as John
c. Spooner and j. w. Babcock, against
whom are arrayed in the bitterest hos
tility the half breeds, under that
shrewdest of reform politicians, re-
Gently Governor, now U. S. senator
Robert NJ. La Toilette. Here in North
Dakota we find a faction, headed by
some of the most eminent men in the
state, which some one has been pleased
by another gang" of would be ele-
class of envious, ambitious Office seek
ers. we take it, who correspond exact
ly to the half breeds in Wisconsin. No
fair minded man in this age of graft
cares to fatty deny the presence Of
more or less corruption in politics
and some political bosses and some
policies, but as a disinterested and
unprecedented judge of events in Wis
cOnsin during the last political
campaign. we wish to go on record
in the unbiased statement that, of the
two political factions in that state it
was impossible to discriminate in point
of honesty and corruption. But OF
course, one expects more from a man
or a party who dares to brand him
self with the Respondent name Of
''reformer"-whO dares to dawn the
sacred robes of reformation. for the
satin whiteness of that cloak shows SO
much more readily the stains of cor
ruption. The reform party in that
state fathered and nourished the prl-
mary election law. but, nOthwithstand-
ing their loud hues and cries for
direct election by the people" it is.
at least interesting TO note that that
favorite radical measure went not into
effect until the little reformation
king" was safely railroaded through to
the United States senate.
The writer believes implicitly in the
maxim that no man ever attains TO
lasting greatness. or even to emlnence
among his fellows without there is
something big and good and liberal
in his makeup, and such men are al
ways sure to become more or less in
fluential among their kind. But ieal-
ousy is monster which has wreck
ed not only more than one home, but
more than one StateSman'S head and
position, not only in the dark days of
King Henry VIII. of England, but in
our own time as we'll. Therefore, like
the curious story man begins to near
the zenith Of his greatness, he must
needs beware of the inevitable enemies
who, prompted by envy and ambition
spring up like mushrooms in the night.
ready to waylay and destroy him if
possible.
How be it, internal Quarrels within
the circle of any political organization
cannot but prove detrimental-cann
but eliminate in disaster. This is
chiefly true because party discrepancies
are naturally nauseating to the public
taste. The immutable law of histor-
ical repetition ought to stand as a
warning to be needed by the republic
an party, not only Of North Dakota
and Wisconsin. but by that of the
whole United States. Has it come TO
that point where by long continuance
in Office which in turn has given SO
long regime of great prosperity and
good government, the republican party
has absorbed so much of the OPPOSE
ton that an internal split is necessary
for natural equilibrium? Whenever
political party begins to air its own
petty controversies-when it con-
verts its press and its rostum into
wash tubs for its own dirty linen--ut-
ter choas and public disgust is the in
evitable outcome, and with disorder
and public disgust comes personal de-
feat and victory for the opposing
party, to which under the circunl-
stances public favor naturally reverts.
1t is difficult to see how the holding
of a public Office can be defined as
crime, yet the chief complaint of one
faction against the other is that it's
leaders occupy the exalted positions
which the leaders of the former covet
for Themselves. 1t would be unfair to
suggest that that simple statement
is applicable to all political conten-
tons. for in all legitimate campaigns
we find each party advocating and
contending for principles: but in these
unbecoming factional squabbles there
is seldom more in essence at stake
save influence and eminence on the
one hand and envious. ambitious de-
sire for selfish ACKNOWLEDGEMENT on the
other. Of a necessity, the offensive
party must assume some high appear
ing role, help unjust accusations upon
the men in power who have spent years
in conscientious labor for their state
and their country. The men now in
power in this state, who have been
termed the Gang" because they
have in mutual spontaneity stood
Loyalty by the magnamious principles
that have made the republican party
prominent in the pages of American
history. have given their constituency
class of service that is unapproach-
able, laws that have been both just
and liberal, so that their enemies
have been at loss for material from
which to fabricate accusations for
their undoing. hence they have re-
stored to the hackneyed cry of cor
ruption. defined in the accusation of
the gang" leaders having dominated
the last state convention at Grand
Forks and signally debating the nom
nations made at that meeting. Such
an insinuation is not only absurd, but
positively an insult to every man who
Sdt III IudI uOuOIdUlc dSseIuuly dS d
delegate and to the men who elected
the delegates. In selecting their dele
gates who are to represent their in
terests at state convention, meeting
for the express purpose of placing in
nomination candidates for high pub
lie ofices,-men who in case of subse-
quent election, are to direct and carry
on the affairs of state-let us give the
people of North Dakota the credit due
to all American citizens, namely the
good sense and good Judgment of