The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-11-01


his excellency caused the publishers of
that paper to be informed against for
criminal libel in a distant county, far
away from their home city, which
county technically had jurisdiction in
the matter, because The Forum circu-
lates in that county. Why didn't
Honest John" If he had good
cause, inform against these men in
Cass county. where they reside? Why
did he take advantage of a technicality
and drag these men into court hun
dreds of miles from their own homes?
He must have had a very poor opinion
Of the people of Cass county If he
thought he could not have fair trial
there: this is a sample of the fairness
of Honest John"
And his political machine faithfully
follows his example. In this campaign
every writer or speaker who has torn
from his excellency his good govern
nent" mask and exposed his hypocrisy
is Immediately attacked by volley
from their undertaking campaign bat
teries. Instead of coming out in the
open and discussing the issues Of the
gubernatorial campaign in an academic
manner, a personal attack is immedi-
ately made on the person who ufters
the opinion. What is the object? First,
to direct the attention of the voters
away from the real issue before th9
people, namely the governors record
second land this is really the main
obiecr). by such methods they hope
to intimidate the people from uttering
an unfavorable opinion of his excel
lency for fear of being the victim Of
their muck rake Thus they expect TO
rob American freemen Of that privilege
guaranteed to them by the constitu-
ton. namely, freedom of speech. Every
person who believes in freedom OF
speech should vote against John Burke
on Nov. 8. The Burke press, instead
of trying to meet the arguments maze
nv me. have attacked me personally
and with great flourish charged me
with the Incorporate use Of inFoXtcat~
ing liquors, thus hoping to silence me
and consign me to innocuous desue-
tude. frankly admit that have IN
wears gone by INDUCED in strong drink
70 excess. but IL is d well known Iact
(weu known to these slanderers) that
have cut it out several years ago
and have led life of absolute soorlety
ever since. Some of the best men IN
this country have at some time IN
their lives used liquor to excess out
now occupy high positions OF trust
yea. some of them today grace the dis
trict and supreme bench OF this stats'
am probably biased, but 1t does seem
to me that when a man cuts out the
LIQUOR habit, that he should not De up
braided with his past misfortune
through the pubic press, just because
ne dares exercise the right OF freedom
NJ speech. Talk about contemplate
carnpaign methods. Whoever heafo
of anything worse?
The writer happens, however TO DC
one of those individuals who have ao-
solutely no fear of that great man
who resembles Abraham Lincoln ana
who is a presidential possibility IN
1912. neither have I any fear of ms
Taumany ring or any Of his serVlle
political organs. If they wish TO ols-
sect me from stem to stern they may
do so. but they cannot silence me-
But bear in mind, ] am not an issue
in this campaign. / have no lnterest
in II whatever, except that interest,"
which should be taken in the Welfare
of his country by every patriotic cltl-
zen who highly prizes his right OF SUI
frape and his freedom of speech ana
conscientiously discharges his duty as
a nrivate citizen. 1t was in that ca
nacitv and in that capacity 'nly that
wrote the article in The Normanaen'
n was my purpose to prove in my
bunhla way. by the official recurGs,
that the present executive mas Ial'ed
To make good his extravaganza CAM
paign promises OF 1906. that ne mas
acted selfishly in the matter OF vetoine
and approving appropriations, and that
ha has used his appointing power, not
| in the interests Of good government
hut for the purpose of erecting ana
maintaining a strong democratic po-
1itical machine to advance the political
| chances of himself and his cohorts
| The article was written In sarcastle
vein and in that vein ! referred 10 ills
| exceIIency az "his Irish highness. III
| his public speeches the governor mas
| frequently spoken of his irish ap-
pointees, referring to his appointees %
! scandinavian descent. 1t lis OF course
perfectly legitimate for his excellencS
| TO resort to sarcasm, for ne is q prlVl-
legged character. But when | do So i
is an appeal to race prejudice, con-
temptible act for which / deserve just
/ censure
One of the men who felt offended by
my writings was my friend Professor
Aaker, who after reading my "slush'
| Immediately became convinced that ht
must declare. in favor of the governor
About two months ago he declared
over his own signature to the public
that he would support Hon. c. A. John.
son. his late opponent in the primary
| Now he declares that he will supper
the democratic nominee. A man Whs
| doesn't know his own mind canno
| expect to influence others. For all W,
know MIR. AalSer may change HIS mint
4 once more before election day comes
around, hence his advice Ii not Yer.
reliable. For Mr. Aalxer as o privat
citizen have more than erdinar!
esteem, but cannot say that admir-
him In d political sense.
Yours respectfully,
i E. Smith Petersen