The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-07-19

--e--@---N @-@-s--S4
popular in North Dakota as he IL in
Minnesota. No man In the world has
achieved such valuable capital of
reputation on such small invest
ment Of achievement as the smiling
man from st. Peter. Should he be
candidate for the presidency in 1912
and the rank and file Of North Dakota
democracy have anything to say about
selecting the de1egatic1 there VIII be
no question as to their choice unless
circumstances are very different from
what they are now.
The Tariff Bill in North Dakota.
OF course this bein North Dakota,
where the very air seeps with politics
this theme is the all-absorbing one in
conversation. For, is it not written,
THAT where two or more North Da-
kotans. are assembled together there
viii politics be talked, for To- they will
all be politicians even to The end of
the world There is no question but
that the average citizen here Is better
posted on public affairs and political
affairs than almost anywhere else and
to say that they are dissatisfied with
the Aldrich bill and Disguised with
the action of their senators and rep
resAntatives is putting it very mildly.
The one notable exception is the ac-
ton of Congressman Gronna and his
insurgency Is wildly endorsed.
Congressman Grcnna.
The case of Congressman Gronna is
peculiar. He is by far the most ordi-
nary and commonplace OF all the mem
bers Of the North Dakota delegation,
and this statement almost lays one
liable to an action for criminal libel,
but he does possess what was known
during that period, that Senator
Bailey delights to term. 1.-THE elder
and better days Of the republic" as
horse sense and he possesses this in
chunks and this qualification enables
him to discern the shallow subter-
fuges Of the present pending tariff
legislation and with characteristic
Viking bluntness he expresses hts
opinions and today he Is the most
popular public man in the state.
The U. S. Senatorship.
The United States senatorship is, of
course, the grand prize In the lottery
of the next campaign. There are many
who think that Congressman Gronna
will be In the fight, but this ic very
doubtful, although he would prove a
formidable candidate in the popular
primaries, but it would mean a fight
With doubtful outcome, and he can
go oack to congress as many times as
he likes and the same good judgment
which guides the congressman in his
tariff action will doubtless impel him
to hold a position that he can have al
most without asking rather than take
a doubtful chance on one that carries
but little, If any, more honor, nor
more salary and a heap more trouble.
Senator McCumber viii, as matter
of course, be a candidate for re- cleo
tion, and 1t Is expected that he will be
backed by the full force Of the power
full Alex Mckenzie faction, aided by
NJ. N Johnson, who is no longer re-
garded as an insurgent, in fact his in
surgency at home and his subserviency
at Washington Is the banner political
joke OF the year in these parts. Con-
ditions have greatly changed, how
ever, in this state by the adoption of
the statewide primary, and no man
or coterie can any longer dictate nomi-
nations and elections, and even Sem
ator McCumber will be opposed by
strong, popular. capable men and he
has a long, rocky road to travel before
he gets baak 20 Washington by the
senatorial route. and he may never
reach there at all.
Thomas Marshall is expected to
enter the race, and If he does there
will be things doing all the time. for
he ca ne within q hair Of winning out
in the last campaign, and his acquies-
cence in the action of the primary has
won him many new friends.
Senator Hansbrough will also be
in the field, unless he is "placated,"
and he probably will be 'placated''
with something equally as good in a
financial way as the senatorship, for
in these times the surest way for a
man to secure fat federal appoint
ment is to be repudiated by republic
can constituency, as 80 per cent of the
federal appointees at the present time
are men who have been turned down
by the republican voters. either at the
polls, primaries or in convention.
Party disrupters like places where
voters can get a whack at them,
and their desires have been gratified
to an amazing extent during the last
ten years.
1t seems to be general impression
that Senator Hansbrough Is down and
out, and 1t is true that he has lost
many fair weather friends, but those
he has left--and he has many in every
part of the state--are the "die-in- the
last ditch" sort and this class of men.
led on by a skiIIful, resourceful deter
mined fighter like Hans have been
known to secure astounding results
in times past, and history may repeat
itself in North Dakota. Even if Sem
ator Hansbrough should be given a
good appointment and thus personally
be eliminated from the field, he could
not and would not try to turn his
support over to anyone not entirely
agreeable to him. Mark it down that
the Hansbrough men hold the key to
the senatorial situation in North Da-
kota, and also mark it down that the
key will not grow rusty for the want
|of use.
The Gcvernorship.
On the democratic side there is moth
ing to the governorship but John
Burke. OF course he is mot q cam
|didate," but beyond ALL question he IL
many thousand votes stronger than
any other democrat in the state. The
democrats OF this state are reorgan-
izing with the intent Of putting up q
fight all along the lines and Burke's
candidacy would materially aid a,,nrs.