The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-11-20
North Dakota Political Gossip

Langdon Republican,; Governor
Burkes appointment Of F. l. Thomp-
son, of Cando. as United States sena-
tor to succeed the late Senator John
son, was what might be termed as the
governors first serious mistake, bur
he was up against a proposition that
was not an easy one, as by his delay
in making the appointment the woods
became full of candidates and each
days waiting only put the GOVERNOR
in worse shape. So far as knows thers
is nothing the matter with Mr. Thomp.
son except that he Is man but little
known and q man absolutely without
any legislative experience. which to-
gether with the fact that he belongs to
the minority party in congress will
make him practically a nonentity In
the way OF legislation and puts the
state OF North Dakota in a bad way
so far as representation in Washing
ton is concerned. If a democrat was
to be appointed 1t seems that the gov
ernor could have selected more At
material in the party. and IL 1t was po-
litical reward that actuated his mo-
tive he certainly went wide Of the
mark as the democratic party In this
state has a number OF prominent mem
bers who have worked faithfully for
years trying to keep what little there
was left Of the democratic party in
North Dakota from getting entirely
lost. Among them are some OF the
states brightest men and men who
have had considerable legislative ex-
perience and men who would have
come nearer making themselves known
in Washington than the present APP
pointee.
But there are several reasons why
the governor should have laid politics
to one side, as well as personal friend
ship, in making this appointment. A
year ago the people Of this state eleci-
ed a republican senator presumably
because that was what they wanted;
this man died and his place had to be
filled by appointment, and does 1t not
stand to reason that more people in
North Dakota would have approved the
appointment OF republican rather
than a democrat, and does II not also
stand to reason that the people have
some interest in the deal as the sena-
tor so appointed is supposed to reps
resent the majority OF the people in
stead of the governor. Furthermore.
three years ago and again a year ago.
Governor Burke was elected by re-
publican votes on the plea of indepen-
dent politics and efficient government,
and the voters we're urged to lay poll
tics to oneaside and vote for the man
who was in a position to do them the
most good but what has become OF the
logic of the governors own argument?
Did he follow this same rule? Didn't
politics cut some figure after all with
the governor himself? Can he use
those same arguments in case he
comes before the people again looking
for republican votes to elect him?
1t seems that the governor made
two serious blunders at one, stroke and
that they will cost him thousands OF
votes should he again come before the
people. He cannot very well ask for
republican votes along the line OF
obliteraEion OF party lines, and besides
he has got to do some explaining to q
lot OF democrats through whose EFFORTS
clone the democratic party In North
Dakota ID alive today. and who figure
that they have NOT been theated right.
WahpetOn Globe: Through the ap-