The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-10-19
Better Day in Politics.

Philadelphia Ledger: Reformers
idealists, sound Americans, decent peo-
pie generally must have recognized
that the nominations for governor by
both the deocrats and republicans in
New York bring cheering promise
Of better day in politics. Quite apart
from the platforms and the political
or economic doctrine promulgated, the
character Of the men named indicates
progress.
The timorous, hedging shifty poll
tician, devoid of opinions of his own
or too coWardly to express his views,
has become a familiar figure. How
Mr.. Stimson stands out in bold relief
when put to the test. A yellow Jour-
nallst was filling an assignment in
the building where Mr.. Stimson has
his law offices. Bang went the flash
light, and the camera fiend was hap
py in taking the name of Elihu Root
in conjunction with Mr.. Stimson's.
The aim to show that Stimson, hav-
ing been a corporation attorney, could
not be true friend to the people. Mr..
Stimson was not dismayed.
To be sure, he had practiced law
with Mr.. Root, and was proud of IL.
He had been an attorney for corpor-
ations himself. The record, briefly,
this: Average income before taking
office as district attorney between
$4,000 and $4,000 a year. Gave up
private practice and accepted district
attorneyship at $4,000 a year. AL
though he had been a corporation at
torney, he convicted the sugor trust
of frauds. He had represented Charles
w. Morse's bank, but as district at
torney he had convicted Morse and
sent him to the penitentiary for fif-
teen years. If anybody wished to
make any political capital out of Mr.
Stimson's association with Mr.. Root
or out of his record as corporation
attorney, Mr.. Stimson said he would
be heartily glad to have the attempt
made.
The tables seem to have been COM
pletely turned. The candidate did not
show any signs of covering or of
cringing at backyard attempt
to appeal to demagogy, but, on
the contrary, the BLACKBOARD assail-
ants are put to flight.
John A. Dix, named by the demo-
Gratis appears to be fine kind of cit
izen. He was state chairman, and
when quite unexpected, the leaders de-
manded that he should become the
nominee, he declined to permit him
self to be placed in the attitude Of
apparently using the office of state
chairman to obtain political prefer
ment," and he only allowed himself
to be persuaded to take the nomina-
ton on condition that the most prom
inent of the candidates should willing
ly agree to his candidacy, which they
did. He is free spoken, manly,
courageous, straightforward man. who
will not be controlled by any one or
diverted from what he believes to be
his duty.
The meaner and smaller sort Of pol
iticians have been proceeding for
years on the false assumption that
the great mass of the people win con-
denim a candidate because he dares
to be honest and frank and defeat
him because he has the courage of
his opinions, and here in the mere
steps of a campaign the
old notions are dissipated, and every
body sees that courage, directness and
manliness are the great elements OF
a mans strength, and outweigh enor-
mously all the arts of the demagogue
and all the stiffness of the crafty
and specious.