Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-11-27
COL. KELLY AND THE NEWS.

COL. KELLY AND THE NEWS.
Recently the Fargo News invited
Col. Kelly of Devils Lake, president
of the Farmers railroad, and one Of
the best known democrats in the
northern part Of the state, to reply
to some charges that were made with
reference to Kelly's connection with
the democratic daily, and Kelly has
availed himself of the invitation and
throws more light on the efforts to
maintain party organ in the state
efforts which seem, so far as harmony
is concerned, have been attended
with little success. An interesting
feature Of Col Kelly's reply, which
appears below. is che intimation that
he might have had the United States
senatorslaip HAD he SC desired-a
statement which would seem to YER
ify political rumors aftoat before the
appointment was finally made. Col.
Kelly's letter is as follows:
The present lessees of the News
are we'll aware Of the fact that I
had absolutely nothing to do with
the conduct or management of the
paper, except as a minority stock
holder holding the sack, previous to
the meeting Of the signers Of the
bond guaranteeing the Northern
Trust company against loss, held at
Bismarck during the session Of the
legislature last winter. On this oc-
casion Senator Duis, Hon. J. B. Eaton
Col. A. B. Kerlin and myself were
appointed as committee to reorgan.
lie the financial affairs of the News,
which was accom- plished as outlined
above. AS chairman of this commit
tee, representing the bondholders, I
solicited subscriptions to the capital
stock of the News Publishing COM
pany from a number of democrats,
including Office holders, Office seekers
and all others I could interest in the
cause of establishing and maintain
ing straight-out democratic news
paper.
=. AS to your charge that I am at
tempting to lead and dictate to the
party, it is absurd. Had I political
ambitions, think it Is we'll known
among the men in the democratic
party who do things that I could
have had even better position than
parole officer for the asking-pos-
sibly the senatorsh ip, who knows? r.
have never asked for anything, and
have never posed as a leader or die
tator. In my humble way I have
tried to do my part to build up the
party organization and make it a fac
tor in the politics OF the state. I have
not done as much as some men, but
l have done as much as ] could, and
l had hoped that man could occupy
an humble position in the rear rank
without being accused of having Ill
terror motives. AS homesteader in
North Dakota I was democrat. as a
farmer I was democrat, as one of
the promoters of a farmers railroad
I was democrat, and I am a demo-
crat still, and with or without your
permission I shall continue to be a
democrat so long as democracy
stands TO, the things it does today,
and I believe my record as demo
crat is such that can be relied upon
to stand with out being given a place
at the pie counter.
AS to the political policy of the
News under it's present MANAGEMENT,
as to whether it is democratic or not,
the democrats of the state, independ-
ent of what you or I may say, will
Judge for themselves. The paper de.
rlares that it Is independent, has slur-
ringEv referred to the best democrat
in the United States attacked the
leaders of the party in the state. and
would. If it dared. discreait the ad-
ministration Of Governor Burke In
stead - preaching democracy as the
promoters Of the paper intended IT.
should. it has ever been more inter
ested in furthering the oo1iti-aT for
sunes of rep'.blis aEs who cur eauivo-
ca1ly" again promise to revise the
tar' ftp and down. as the locality
misunderstanding thereby to deceive
and mislead the voters to support
them ain and as. list n landing
them in a seat at the national pie
counter + am not inclined to blame
zMessrs. McAndress and Hellstrom
for this condition of affairs, for I be-
Elieve they have involved themselves
deeply in publishing the paper and
would doubtless pursue policy more
In harmony with the wishes of the
democracy of the state were they
free from the clutches of the political
Shyloeks who sit back Of them de-
manding their pound Of flesh In the
shape of political assistance under